LVI1.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



159 



they forsake houses and chimneys to a bird, and roost in trees ; 

 and usually withdraw about the beginning of October; though 

 some few stragglers may appear at times till the first week in 

 November. 



[September 13, 1791. The congregating flocks of hirundines 

 on the church and tower are very beautiful and amusing ! When 

 they fly off together from the roof, on any alarm, they quite swarm 

 in the air. But they soon settle in heaps, and preening their 

 feathers, and lifting up their wings to admit the sun, seem highly 

 to enjoy the warm situation. Thus they spend the heat of the 

 day, preparing for their emigration, and, as it were, consulting 

 when and where they are to go. The flight about the church 

 seems to consist chiefly of house-martins, about 400 in number : 

 but there are other places of rendezvous about the village fre- 

 quented at the same time. 1 



It is remarkable, that though most of them sit on the battle- 

 ments and roof, yet many hang or cling for some time by their 

 claws against the surface of the walls, in a manner not prac- 

 tised by them at any other time of their remaining with us. 



The swallows seem to delight more in holding their assem- 

 blies on trees. 



November 3, 1789. Two swallows were seen this morning at 

 Newton vicarage-house hovering and settling on the roofs and 

 out-buildings. None have been observed at Selborue since 

 October 11. It is very remarkable, that after the hirundines 

 have disappeared for some weeks, a few are occasionally seen 

 again : sometimes in the first week in November, and that only 

 for one day. Do they not withdraw and slumber in some hiding 



1 Of their migration the proofs are such as will scarcely admit of a doubt. 

 Sir Charles Wager and Captain Wright saw vast flocks of them at sea. 

 when on their passage from one country to another. Our author, Mr. White. 

 saw what he deemed the actual migration of these birds which he has 

 described at page 74, and again in the above extract ; and I once 

 observed a large flock of house-martins myself on the roof of the church 

 here at Catsfield, which acted exactly in ibe manner here described by 

 Mr. White, sometimes preening their feathers and spreading their wings 

 to the sun, and then flying off all together, but soon returning to their 

 former situation. The greatest part of these birds seemed to be young ones. 

 MARKWICK. 



