. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . THE SAND MARTIN. BANK MARTIN, OR SAND SWALLOW.(Hiruftdo riparia, Lin.—LHirondelle de rivage, BufF.) Length about four inches and three quarters:The bill is of a dark horn colour; the head, neck,breaft, and back are of a moufe colour; over eacheye there is a light ftreak; the throat and forepart of the neck are white, as are alfo the bellyand vent; the wings and tail are brown; the legsare dark brown, and are furnilhed with feathersbehind, which reach as far as the toes. This is the fmallefl of all our Swallows, as wellas the leaft num
. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . THE SAND MARTIN. BANK MARTIN, OR SAND SWALLOW.(Hiruftdo riparia, Lin.—LHirondelle de rivage, BufF.) Length about four inches and three quarters:The bill is of a dark horn colour; the head, neck,breaft, and back are of a moufe colour; over eacheye there is a light ftreak; the throat and forepart of the neck are white, as are alfo the bellyand vent; the wings and tail are brown; the legsare dark brown, and are furnilhed with feathersbehind, which reach as far as the toes. This is the fmallefl of all our Swallows, as wellas the leaft numerous of them: It frequents theIteep fandy banks in the neighbourhood of rivers,in the fides of which it makes deep holes, and pla-ces the nell at the end; it is carelefsly conitru6t-ed of ftraw, dry grafs, and feathers; the femalelays five or fix white eggs, almoft tranfparent, andis faid to have only one brood in the year. BRITISH BIRDS. 259. THE SWIFT. BLACK MARTIN, OR DEVILING.{Htrundo apusy Lin.—Le Martinet miry BufF.) Length near eight inches : Bill black; eyes ha-zel; its general colour is that of a footy black,with greenilh reflections ; the throat is white ; thewings are long, meafuring, from tip to tip, abouteighteen inches ; the tail is much forked ; the legsare of a dark brown colour, and very Ihort; thetoes ftand two and two on each fide of the foot, andconfift of two phalanges or joints only, which is aconformation peculiar to this bird. The female israther lefs than the male, her plumage inclinesmore to brown, and the white on the throat is lefsdiftina. The Swift arrives later and departs fooner thanany of the tribe, from whence it is probable that ithas a longer journey to take than the others ; it islarger, flronger, and its flight is more rapid thanany of its kindred tribes, and it has but one brood Sa 26o BRITISH BIRDS. in the year, fo that the young ones have thne to^ga;in ftrength enough to accompany t
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