232 THE REDBREAST. 



" The Sparrow hath found an house, where she may lay her 

 young, even thine altars, Lord." 



Most of the birds of this tribe are migratory, either partially 

 or altogether so : we mean, that while the Nightingales, Wil- 

 low-wrens, and others disappear entirely from our shores, and 

 retire to distant and more congenial climates, others such as 

 the Wagtails, only move from one part of England to another. 

 The exact times of their appearance and departure it would he 

 desirable to ascertain, with reference to state of weather, direc- 

 tion of the wind, and prevalence of particular insects, &c. In 

 short, the same principle holds good in natural history as in 

 other science : namely, the importance of noting down observa- 

 tions, however trivial they may appear at the time, as the most 

 minute circumstance may possibly, when connected with other 

 inquiries, lead to unexpected additions to our knowledge of 

 the operations of nature, just as a unit or cipher in arithmetic 

 becomes important, simply by taking its proper place. 



It might, indeed, in connection with this view of the sub- 

 ject, afford an interesting object of research, were the daily or 

 almost hourly migrations, if we may so speak, more closely 

 observed ; my own belief being, that several species of birds 

 are in the habit not only of, generally speaking, confining 

 themselves to certain localities, but at certain hours of the day 

 frequenting particular spots ; an instance in proof may be 

 given of a Robin, which during a considerable portion of the 

 winter took shelter in Norwich Cathedral, perching during the 

 Morning Service, and almost always within a minute or two of 

 the same time, on a particular part of the cathedral, when, 

 after warbling a few notes for a short time, it flew to another 

 particular spot, and from thence to a third, generally terminat- 

 ing its course by alighting on the pavement in search of small 

 particles of food. Hopes were entertained that it might repeat 

 its visits in the following winter, but its return was looked for 

 in vain, having most likely met with its death in the course of 

 the summer. 



The migration of Nightingales is attended with some pecu- 

 liarities deserving attention. In some parts of England they 

 are to be heard in every hedge-row, filling the air, particularly 



