350 WHITE 



November, and that only for one day. Do they not with- 

 draw and slumber in some hiding-place in the interval ? For 

 we cannot suppose they had emigrated to warmer climes and 

 so returned again for one day. Is it not more probable that 

 they are awakened from sleep, and like the bats are come forth 

 to collect a little food ? Bats appear at all seasons through 

 the autumn and spring months, when the thermometer is at 

 50, because then phalaenae and moths are stirring. 

 These swallows looked like young ones. WHITE. 



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, and which he has described at 

 p. 184 of his " History of Selborne ; " and of their congregat- 

 ing together on the roofs of churches and other buildings, and 

 on trees, previous to their departure, many instances occur ; 

 particularly I once observed a large stock of house-martins on 

 the roof of the church here at Catsfield, which acted exactly 

 in the manner here described by Mr. White, sometimes preen- 

 ing their feathers and spreading their wings to the sun, and 

 then flying off all together, but soon returning to their former 

 1 situation. The greatest part of these birds seem to be young 

 ones. MARKWICK. 



WAGTAILS. While the cows are feeding in the moist low 

 pastures, broods of wagtails, white and gray, run round them, 

 close up to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing 

 themselves of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably 

 finding worms and larvae that are roused by the trampling of 

 their feet. Nature is such an economist, that the most incon- 

 gruous animals can avail themselves of each other ! 



Interest makes strange friendships. WHITE. 



Birds continually avail themselves of particular and unusual 

 circumstances to procure their food ; thus wagtails keep play- 

 ing about the noses and legs of cattle as they feed, in quest 

 of flies and other insects which abound near those animals ; 

 and great numbers of them will follow close to the plough to 



