226 'The Natural History of Selborne 



undergo vast devastations somehow, and somewhere ; for the 

 birds that return yearly bear no manner of proportion to the 

 birds that retire. 



House-martins are distinguished from their congeners by 

 having their legs covered with soft downy feathers down to 

 their toes. They are no songsters ; but twitter in a pretty 

 inward soft manner in their nests. 1 During the time of 

 breeding they are often greatly molested with fleas. 



I am, &c. 



1 They also call to their young on the wing as they approach the. nests 

 to feed them. ED. 



