294 HOUSE-MARTINS. 



the uncomfortable months of winter. But supposing 

 that the examination would be made to the best ad- 

 vantage in the spring, and observing that no martins 

 had appeared by the llth of April last, on that day 

 I employed some men to explore the shrubs and 

 cavities of the suspected spot. The persons took 

 pains, but without any success ; however, a remark- 

 able incident occurred in the midst of our pursuit, 

 while the labourers were at work, a house-martin, 

 the first that had been seen this year, came down the 

 village in the sight of several people, and went at 

 once into a nest, where it stayed a short time, and 

 then flew over the houses ; for some days after, no 

 martins were observed, not till the 16th of April, 

 and then only a pair. Martins in general were re- 

 markably late this year. 



LETTER XCVL 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, Sept. 9, 1781. 



I HAVE just met with a circumstance respecting 

 swifts, which furnishes an exception to the whole 

 tenor of my observations ever since I have bestowed 

 any attention on that species of hirundines. Our 

 swifts, in general, withdrew this year about the first 

 day of August, all save one pair, which in two or 

 three days was reduced to a single bird. The perse- 

 verance of this individual made me suspect that the 

 strongest of motives, that of an attachment to her 

 young, could alone occasion so late a stay. I watched 

 therefore till the 24th of August, and then discovered 

 that, under the eaves of the church, she attended 



