736 Retrospective Criticism, 



there. This cave is not deep, nor higher from the floor than, 

 perhaps, about 30 ft. When the tide is high, the station of 

 the birds cannot be more than 10 ft. above the water; and in 

 a storm, when the waves roll into the place, their situation 

 must be dangerous. But neither when the tide was in nor out 

 could I succeed in possessing myself of a specimen of a nest : 

 which leaves, indeed, the actual proof of the matter still some- 

 what in question ; but for which, I hope, a sufficient excuse 

 will be found in the very evident danger of a broken limb that 

 Haight have resulted from the attempt. 



^> That martins build their nests in caverns near the sea, 

 we have the authority of Forster ; but, though the fact may 

 require no further proof, it may admit of illustration from 

 recent observation. Mr. Clement Jackson of EastLooe informs 

 me, that he knew a cavern near Falmouth where numbers of 

 martins were accustomed to build their nests, the side of the 

 roof being studded with them. What renders the circum- 

 stance more remarkable is, that, whilst these martins colonised 

 the inner part of the cave, a pair of kestrels had taken up 

 their abode, and were rearing their brood, under a projecting 

 ledge at the entrance : neither party seemed to be incom- 

 moded by the neighbourhood of the other. High towards the 

 top of a kitchen chimney, near to my house, are two cavities 

 resembling pigeon-holes. For what purpose they were made 

 I cannot say ; they do not communicate with the interior of 

 the chimney : but I observe that this year a pair of swallows 

 are in the habit of flymg into one of these holes, and remain- 

 ing there. I think it, therefore, probable that they have formed 

 their nest in this singular situation. — J". Couch, Polperro, 

 July, 1832. 



Habits of the Swift,— First seen, May 1st, 1824; April 

 30th, 1832; May 2d, 1820, 1823; 3d, 1827, 1828, 1829; 

 4th, 1830; 5th, 1819, 1825; 8th, 1817; 9th, 1826; 12th, 

 1331; 14.th, 1822; 16th, 1821; 18th, 1818; 2lst, 1830.— 

 Last seen, July 29th, 1831 ; August 12th, 1818, 1819; 3d, 

 1825; 9th, l^ie, 1821, 1822; 11th, 1830; 13th, 1824; 17thj 

 1823. 



These dates refer to birds occupying the same nests. It is 

 not long that swifts have frequented stations convenient for 

 my observation. At first they were about two pairs, but 

 they have now increased to four or five ; and it is singular 

 that, according to my observation, there is always an odd 

 bird. All the colony come and go, usually, all together; 

 and, unlike the swallow and martin, I have not seen any 

 swifts on their passage, after our own birds have gone. 

 However, the individual which I saw on the 30th of April 



