. Cassell's book of birds . rly a THE GAPERS. 113 stadium in length—a thing that could not possibly have been effected by the agency of man. InEgypt, too, near the city of Coptos, there is an island sacred to Isis ; in the early days of spring, theSwallows strengthen the angular corner of this island with chaff and straw, thus fortifying it in orderthat the river may not sweep it away. This work they persevere in for three days and nightstogether, with such unremitting labour that it is a well-known fact that many of them die inconsequence of their exertions ) moreover, this is a toil which re
. Cassell's book of birds . rly a THE GAPERS. 113 stadium in length—a thing that could not possibly have been effected by the agency of man. InEgypt, too, near the city of Coptos, there is an island sacred to Isis ; in the early days of spring, theSwallows strengthen the angular corner of this island with chaff and straw, thus fortifying it in orderthat the river may not sweep it away. This work they persevere in for three days and nightstogether, with such unremitting labour that it is a well-known fact that many of them die inconsequence of their exertions ) moreover, this is a toil which recurs to them regularly every year. The nest itself is made at the end of the above-mentioned passage, and consists of a bedof straw, hay, and fibres, snugly lined with wool, hair, and feathers. The eggs, five or six in number,are of an oval shape, and have a thin, pure white shell. The young are hatched in a fortnight, andremain for a similar period under the care of their parents. Should the first family not be reared, a. THE ARIEL (Chelidon Ariel). second brood is at once laid. The flight of the Sand Martin is so light as to bear comparisonwith that of the butterfly. Its voice is weak and gentle, and its disposition lively and active; itis extremely social, and lives at peace with most other birds. In its general habits it resemblesits congeners, but leaves for warmer climes earlier in the year than they do, and does not reappear tillabout May. THE ARIEL Ariel Swallow, or Fairy Martin (CJulidon Ariel), as the Australian representative of ourRoof Swallow is called, is about three inches and a half in length. The upper part of its body is deepblue, the top of the head rust-red, the rump brownish white, and the tail dark brown ; the eye isblackish brown, the beak black, and the foot brownish grey. According to Gould, the Ariel appearsin the southern and western portions of Australia about August, and, seeking after its old haunts, laystwo or three broods, and depar
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
