I lmve stated that the House-Martin, like its congeners, is a summer visitant only, arriving in spring, at the
appointed time, almost to a d ay ; this is neither early nor late in the season, generally about the middle of
A p ril; thus it is later in its arrival than the Sand-Martin and Swallow, and earlier thau the Swift, which
does not appear until the beginning o f May. Where, then, does the fairy little Martin spend its days when
not with us ? We have seen, from Mr. Crowley’s note, that it certainly goes to Spa in; and, in my opinion,
it proceeds still further south to Morocco, the winter quarters o f by far the greater portion o f our
migrants. So much is generally known respecting this bird that it is scarcely necessary for me to state it
is found in all parts of Britain, and that it is equally numerous in the warm lowlands as on the sides of the
bleakest mountains; wherever human habitations exist, there assuredly will be found this pleasing wanderer.
In all these situations it rears one or two broods a year, according to the more or less favourable
state o f the season. It is believed that as soon as the duty o f incubation has been completed and the
young are able to assist themselves, the old birds forsake their progeny and wing their way back to whence
they came, leaving instinct to perform its wonderful power of guiding the young to the “ unknown land ” to
which their parents have preceded them. Besides the British Islands, the House-Martin ranges as far
north as the Ferroe Islands and Iceland; it is also found in every part o f Europe, from the shores o f the
Mediterranean to Uleabourg; as with us, it is everywhere a summer sprite, whose appearance gladdens
the hearts of the inhabitants, assuring them by its appearance that summer is not far behind. I am not
satisfied that it is not found in other countries further e a s t; a t the same time I much question whether the
assertion o f its being a native of Amoorland, Kamtschatka, and even China be correct; indeed I feel assured that
the bird is not found therein, but that the species mistaken for it is probably the one I have called Chelidon
Cashrniriensis, which may also be the bird Mr. Jerdon speaks o f in his ‘ Birds of India,’ under the name of
English House-Martin, as having been found by him in small numbers, in one locality, on the Neilgherries.
It may, however, extend its range throughout Persia, to the confines of India ; but we have no direct evidence
of the fact. The Rev. H. B. Tristram states that “ it is the last o f the Swallow tribe to return to Palestine,
where it appears in great numbers about April 5th, and breeds in colonies on the sheltered faces of cliffs in the
valleys o f northern Galilee.” The chief differences between C. Cashrniriensis and C. urbica is the smaller
size o f the former, and particularly the darker colours o f its axillary feathers.
“ The ease and rapidity of its flight, however marvellous, excites no astonishment, as we are daily in the
habit of witnessing them,” says Macgillivray; “ but a true lover of nature can, nevertheless, contemplate its
airy windings for hours with delight. The evolutions o f this species resemble, in all respects, those o f the
Swallow; but its flight is perhaps somewhat less rapid, although it is certainly very difficult to decide with
accuracy in a comparison o f this kind. Its sweeps and curves, however, seem to me less bold, or, rather,
less extended ; but its dexterity is equally remarkable. The influence o f the weather on the flight o f insects
causes it to observe the same selection o f places th at they d o ; so that, in calm and cloudless days it flies
more in the open air, in windy weather more in the shelter of hedges and walls, and in damp evenings it
skims over the grass and corn.”
To give some idea o f the numbers of insects which these birds capture to feed their young, besides those
taken for their own support, I may mention that one o f Macgillivray’s correspondents informed him th at a
pair of Martins began to feed their young ones, four in number, a t twenty-five minutes after four o’clock in
the morning; and at ten minutes after eight in the evening, when they ceased from their labours, they had
fed them no less than 307 tim es: this was on a bright sunny d ay ; on a subsequent dull rainy one, they only
fed them 2 12 times.
The male Martin slightly differs from the female in size, being smaller, and having a less forked t a il;
in other respects the two sexes are externally alike.
The nest, which is built of pellets o f mud collected by the bird, is lined with a layer of straws, and sometimes
wool, and, lastly, a number o f feathers ; the eggs are four o r five in number, o f a pure white, without
spots, but with a blush of flesh-colour showing through the almost transparent shell.
The two figures, in the upper part of the Plate, are o f the natural size.