I7o NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



elude that by that time the first flight is pretty well over. The 

 young of this species do not quit their abodes altogether ; but the 

 more forward birds get abroad some days before the rest. These 

 approaching the eaves of buildings, and playing about before them, 

 make people think that several old ones attend one nest. They 

 are often capricious in fixing on a nesting-place, beginning many 

 edifices, and leaving them unfinished ; but when once a nest is 

 completed in a sheltered place, it serves for several seasons. 

 Those which breed in a ready finished house get the start in 

 hatching of those that build new by ten days or a fortnight. 

 These industrious artificers are at their labours in the long days 

 before four in the morning. When they fix their materials they 

 plaster them on with their chins, moving their heads with a quick 

 vibratory motion. They dip and wash as they fly sometimes in 

 very hot weather ; but not so frequently as swallows. It has been 

 observed that martins usually build to a north-east or north-west 

 aspect, that the heat of the sun may not crack and destroy their 

 nests ; but instances are also remembered where they bred for 

 many years in vast abundance in a hot stifled inn -yard against a 

 wall facing to the south. 



Birds in general are wise in their choice of situation ; but in 

 this neighbourhood every summer is seen a strong proof to the 

 contrary at a house without eaves in an exposed district, where 

 some martins build year by year in the corners of the windows. 

 But, as the corners of these windows (which face to the south-east 

 and south-west) are too shallow, the nests are washed down every 

 hard rain ; and yet these birds drudge on to no purpose from 

 summer to summer, without changing their aspect or house. It 

 is a piteous sight to see them labouring when half their nest is 

 washed away and bringing dirt .... "generis lapsi sarcire 

 ruinas." Thus is instinct a most wonderful unequal faculty; in 

 some instances so much above reason, in other respects so far 

 below it ! Martins love to frequent towns, especially if there are 

 great lakes and rivers at hand ; nay they even affect the close 

 air of London. And I have not only seen them nesting in the 

 Borough, but even in the Strand and Fleet Street ; but then it 

 was obvious from the dinginess of their aspect that their feathers 



