98 The Natural History of Selborne 



Wall 1 on a remarkably hot noon, either in the last week in 

 December or the first week in January, he espied three or 

 four swallows huddled together on the moulding of one of the 

 windows of that college. I have frequently remarked that 

 swallows are seen later at Oxford than elsewhere ; is it owing 

 to the vast massy buildings of that place, to the many waters 

 round it, or to what else ? 



When I used to rise in a morning last autumn, and see 

 the swallows and martins clustering on the chimneys and 

 thatch of the neighbouring cottages, I could not help being 

 touched with a secret delight, mixed with some degree of 

 mortification ; with delight, to observe with how much ardour 

 and punctuality those poor little birds obeyed the strong im- 

 pulse towards migration, or hiding,' 2 imprinted on their minds 

 by their great Creator ; and with some degree of mortification, 

 when I reflected that, after all our pains and inquiries, we are 

 yet not quite certain to what regions they do migrate ; and 

 are still farther embarrassed to find that some do not actually 

 migrate at all. 



These reflections made so strong an impression on my 

 imagination, that they became productive of a composition 

 that may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when 

 next I have the honour of writing to you. 



1 The wall between Merton College, Oxford, and Christ Church Meadows, 

 familiar both to White and his correspondent. ED. 2 The idea of 

 hiding is, of course, erroneous. En. 



