HOUSE MARTIN, OR WINDOW SWALLOW. (Hirundo urbica.)

THE Martin is something less than the swallow, with a comparatively large head, and a wide mouth; the colour of the upper parts a bluish black, the rump and all the under parts of the body white, the bill black; its legs covered with short white down.

These birds begin to appear about the middle of April, and for some time pay no attention to the business of nidification, but sport and play about, either to recruit themselves from the fatigue of the journey, or else that their blood may recover its true tone and texture, after having been so long benumbed by the severities of the winter.

Should the weather prove favourable, it begins to build early in May, placing its nest generally beneath the eaves of a house, often against a perpendicular wall: without any projecting ledge to support any part of the nest, its utmost efforts are necessary to get the first foundation firmly fixed, so as to carry the superstructure safely. On this occasion, it not only clings with its claws, but partly

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supports itself by strongly inclining its tail against the wall, making that a fulcrum; and thus fixed, it plasters the materials into the face of the brick or stone. But that this work may not, while soft, sink by its own weight, the provident architect has the prudence and forbearance not to proceed too fast; but by building only in the morning, and dedicating the rest of the day to food and amusement, he gives it sufficient time to dry and harden. By this method, in about ten days, the nest is formed, strong, compact, and warm, and perfectly fitted for all the purposes for which it is intended. But nothing is more common than for the house-sparrow, as soon as the shell is finished, to seize on it, eject the owner, and line it according to its own peculiar manner. The Martin will return for several seasons to the same nest, where it happens to be well sheltered and secured from the injuries of the weather. They breed the latest of all our swallows, never being without unfledged young ones even so late as Michaelmas.

The first hatch consists of five eggs, which are white, inclining to dusky at the thicker end; the second, of three or four; and of a third, of only two or three. While the young birds are confined to the nest the parents feed them, adhering by the claws to the outside; but as soon as they are able to fly they receive their nourishment on the wing, by a quick and almost imperceptible motion.

"Welcome, welcome, feathered stranger,

Now the sun bids Nature smile;
Safe arrived and free from danger,
Welcome to our blooming isle."

FRANKLIN.

THE SWIFT, OR BLACK MARTIN,
(Cypselus apus,)

ARRIVES in England later, and takes its departure earlier than any of its congeners. The Swift is the largest of the swallow species, and the most rapid in its flight. Its nest, which is generally built in the crevices of old towers and steeples, is constructed of dried grass, feathers, thread, and similar materials. These the bird collects whilst on the wing, picking them up with great dexterity. They seldom alight upon the ground, and if by accident they fall upon a level surface, they recover themselves with difficulty, owing to the shortness of their legs, and the length of their wings. During the heat of the day they remain within their holes, and at morning and evening sally out in quest of food. They may then be seen in flocks, whirling round some lofty edifice, or describing in mid-air, an endless series of circles upon circles. Swifts fly higher, and wheel with bolder wing than the swallows, with whom they never intermingle.

THE GOATSUCKER. (Caprimulgus Europeus.) THIS curious bird, called also the Nightjar, and the Fern Owl, comes to this country from Africa about the middle of May and usually leaves by the end of August. These birds are generally found in low bushes, or amongst tufts of large ferns; and generally fly at night, hence their name of Fern Owl. The beak is furnished with bristles, and the middle toe of each foot has a claw toothed like a comb, with which the bird clears and smooths his bristles, when necessary. The female lays her eggs upon the ground, without any nest, and lays only two. The name of Goatsucker originated in an absurd idea that this bird sucked the goat's milk, from its habit of lying on the ground near cows or she goats, and catching the flies that torment them by fixing on their udders.

Mr. Waterton, who is certainly the closest observer of nature who ever wrote on Natural History, states, in one of his very interesting works, that he has frequently seen the Goatsuckers catching insects in this manner, and thus proving themselves the best of friends to the animals they are accused of annoying.

THE SKYLARK. (Alauda arvensis.)

"Go, tuneful bird, that gladd'st the skies,
To Daphne's window speed thy way;
And there on quivering pinions rise,
And there thy vocal art display."

SHENSTONE.

THE Skylark is distinguished from most other birds, by the long spur on his back toe, the earthy colour of his feathers, and by singing as he mounts in the air. The common Skylark is not much bigger than the housesparrow. These birds generally make their nest in meadows among the high grass, and the tint of their plumage resembles so much that of the ground, that the body of the bird is hardly distinguishable as it hops along.

"The daisied lea he loves, where tufts of grass
Luxuriant crown the ridge: there, with his mate,
He founds their lonely house, of withered herbs,
And coarsest spear-grass; next the inner work,
With finer, and still finer fibres lays,

Rounding it curious with his speckled breast."
GRAHAME.

Larks breed thrice a year, in May, July, and August, rearing their young in a short space of time. They are caught in great quantities in winter, and are considered choice and delicate food. It is a melancholy observation, that man should feed upon, and indulge his sense of taste with those very birds who have so often delighted his sense of hearing with their songs, when they