LETTER LV. 



To the same. 



October loth, 1781. 



EAR SIR, I think I have observed before 

 that much of the most considerable part of 

 the house-martins withdraw from hence about 

 the first week in October; but that some, the 

 latter broods I am now convinced, linger on 

 till towards the middle of that month ; and 

 that at times, once perhaps in two or three 



years, a flight, for one day only, has shown itself in the first 



week in November. 1 



Having taken notice in October, 1780, that the last flight 



1 The Hirundines possessed a peculiar and fatal fascination for White. 

 The suggestion at the end of this letter is one more contribution of a straw 

 to his favourite mare's nest. ED. 



