ÎNSESSORES. HÏRÜNDJNIDÆr
FISSIROSTRES.
T H E M A R T IN .
Hirundo urbica, Martin Swallowt P ennI Brit» Zool. vol. i. p. 547.
,, , , The Martinj . ' M ont. Ornith. Diet.
„ „ ,V BewicÉ, Brit. Birds, vol. i. p, 303.
tr >> )> F lem. Brit, An. pS0l* ...
, , i , -S e lby , Brit.--Ormth. vol.i. p.l23.:,~\'
,} , , House , , J enyns, Brit. "Vert. p. 158.
„ ,, The ' OptrtD,. Birds'ojf Éfffopè, pt. xviii.
„ , , Hirondelle defenêtre, T emm. Man. d’Ornith. vol. i. p. 428.
T he spring- appearance of the Martin in this country is
usually a few days later than that of the Swallow. ' The
Martin seems to commence its northern migration in Africa,
and even to cross the Mediterranean, in company-^With the
Swallow ; but having comparatively a smaller wing, its relatively
diminished powers of flight require longer time to perform
the distance. Like the Swallow, the Martin also endeavours
-to establishafeelf about the habitations of man. The
opinion Entertained by many that they are birds of good
omen, with which it would at least be unlucky, if not improper,
to interfere, andotke degree of confidentie exhibited by the
birds themselves, in their choice, of.-situation, seem to have
induced a general prepossession 'in their favour, which theif
innocent and useful lives' fully entitle them to enjoy. The
habits, o f the Martin, in many instances,-closely resemble
the Swap|w. That* theyireturn to the places, and
ë^h.to. the nests, which they|inhabited during previous sea-
sonyhas-been -frequently stated,!and .there appears to be ho
reason t « ^ u kbt itb Gilbert White, in that pa&t of his Joiif-*
nal published in th^&eGohd series’ of Gleanings in Natural
History, says,! ^jOuly 6th, 1783.—r-Somé' young Martins
came out of the nest\,oyer the garden-,door. This nest was
built”fefe l777,.:nnd has been’ used ieVer, sincè?’ * Their nests,
as^every one has seen;. are fixed .under thé payest of houses,vor'
in ‘the -upper ai^gljpj of 'windows,4and hence its name of Housd
Martin, and Window Martin. Whilé thé building'of theif
nests »is. in progress^thM|thirds are* frequently to be" seen on
I te ^ ro u n d in damp .places, collecting' the mud or clay of
which the out§é<ieböf the Jfestjés composed. M. Yiêillot says
they, select^worm casts for this purposét earth probably:
hêcomesi-still'further moistened with a portion of saliva from
the bird, by which its tenacity jcs^increased^- White remarks
•u A Martin .has built itsvnest»’ against the »glass ó f a window.
I t seems to stick firmly, and has no..other support*” The
■hemispheric form of th e -tóesf,bwhèn finished1,»!:is well’ known:
whilfe in progress;-»-a single layef only'-of soft -earth:is laid, on
along the whol-é line, day after!day, which! is thus allowed to
hècomei hard before additional weight ist: supëradded. When
the external circuMr wall is'finished, the cavity within M lined
with .a few-bents-of hay and some soft featheis, and the nest