Identifier: britishbirdseggs00atk (find matches)
Title: British birds' eggs and nests : popularly described
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Atkinson, J. C. (John Christopher), 1814-1900
Subjects: Birds Birds Birds
Publisher: London New York : G. Routledge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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llow. Everyone knows where to look for the Martins nest, and many a housecan we all call to mind which seems, from some pecuharity in itssite or external fashion, to be particularly affected by these birds—and certainly, in most cases, the inmates of the house takemuch care to save their confiding feathered friends from disturb-. ance. In many places, however, the Martin forms large nestingcolonies, which take possession of a series of overhanging ledgeson some steep rocky face, and there build their nests in greatnmnbers. In Berwickshire, on the banks of the Whiteadder, Iknew of such a colony, and others elsewhere: the principal ones,however, being on the rock-bound coast between St. Abbs Headand Burnmouth. Hundreds of these birds nested in severaldifferent places upon those lofty precipices. No description ofthe nest itself—beyond wliat was said in the notice of the Swal-low—seems requisite. The number of eggs, which are perfectlyvvliite, seems seldom to exceed six. PLATE VIII
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Heron 2. Bittern. 3. Cmlew. 4. Redstiai.k. 5. Common Sandpiper. 6. SWIFT. ,101 141. SAND UkUTIN—iRinrndo riparia).Bank Martin, Pit Martin, Sand Swallow, Bank Swallow, E.iverSwallow.—This delicate little visitor comes to ns in the spring,often very early, from Africa, as do also the two others of thegemis just named. Where it does occur—and it is generallydiffused—it is often seen in very large numbers. A Ballast Pit atPingringhoe, in Essex, is occupied by the most numerous colonyI am acquainted with; and a site afforded by the surface beds ofsand and soil above a steep scarp of rock on Tweed-bank, nearlyopposite Norham Casile, used to accommodate another colony.Some of the holes are bored to a very great depth. I have enlargedthe orifice of many till it would admit my whole shoulder, and havethen been unable to reach the termination of the gallery. Othersare much shorter, and admitting of more easy access to the nest.The female will, notwithstanding the noise and violence atte

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