INSTINCTS AND HABITS OF BIRDS. 209 



human race is not a little extraordinary, and 

 entitles them to the protection of man. I have 

 found their nests in extraordinary situations. 

 I had once occasion to call on a friend at 

 Pipe Hall, in Warwickshire, and saw a swal- 

 low's nest fixed to the knocker of the door. 

 On ringing a bell the door was opened, when 

 the bird left its retreat, but I was assured 

 would return to it immediately. I have seen a 

 nest under a low door-way, under the eaves 

 of a low cottage, and against the wall of a 

 tool-shed. When they are preparing to migrate, 

 they assemble by many thousands on particular 

 spots. I have seen the large roof of the tennis- 

 court at Hampton Court Palace covered with 

 them, and also the willows on the little islands 

 in the River Thames. Last autumn I saw the 

 telegraph wires, nine or ten in number, which 

 cross that river near Maidenbridge, completely 

 covered from one end to the other with sand- 

 martins. The next day not one was to be 

 seen. 



It must be an extraordinary instinct which 

 leads swallows to congregate from various re- 

 mote districts to a particular locality, and then 

 to migrate with one accord, old as well as young, 



p 



