OF SELBORNE. 107 



LETTER XX. 



TO TPIE SAME. 



Selborne, Feb. 20, 1774. 

 DEAR SIR, 



THE sand-martin, or bank-martin, is by much the least of any 

 of the British hir undines; and, as far as we have ever seen, 

 the smallest known hirundo : though Brisson asserts that 

 there is one much smaller, and that is the hirundo esculenta. 



But it is much to be regretted that it is scarce possible for 

 any observer to be so full and exact as he could wish in 

 reciting the circumstances attending the life and conversation 

 of this little bird, since it is fera naturd, at least in this part 

 of the kingdom, disclaiming all domestic attachments, and 

 haunting wild heaths and commons where there are large 

 lakes; while the other species, especially the swallow and 

 house-martin, are remarkably gentle and domesticated, and 

 never seem to think themselves safe but under the protection 

 of man. 



Here are in this parish, in the sand-pits and banks of the 

 lakes of Wolmer-forest, several colonies of these birds ; and 

 yet they are never seen in the village ; nor do they at all 

 frequent the cottages that are scattered about in that wild 

 district. The only instance I ever remember where this 

 species haunts any building is at the town of Bishop's Walt- 

 ham, in this county, where many sand-martins nestle and 

 breed in the scaffold-holes of the back-wall of William of 

 Wykeham'i stables : but then this wall stands in a very 

 sequestered and retired enclosure, and faces upon a large and 

 beautiful lake. And indeed this species seems so to delight in 

 large waters, that no instance occurs of their abounding, but 

 near vast pools or rivers : and in particular it has been re- 

 marked that they swarm in the banks of the Thames in some 

 places below London-bridge. 



