236 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBOliNE 1791 



on October 22nd, I discovered here at Selborne three young 

 martins in a nest, which the dams fed and attended with 

 great affection on to November 1st, a severe frosty day; 

 when they disappeared; and one was found dead in a 

 neighbour's garden. The middle of last September was 

 a sweet season ! during this lovely weather the congregating 

 flocks of house martins on the Church and tower were very 

 beautiful and amusing! When they flew off all together 

 from the roof, on any alarm, they quite swarmed in the air. 

 But they soon settled again in heaps on the shingles ; where 

 preening their feathers, and lifting up their wings to admit 

 the rays of the sun, they seemed highly to enjoy the warm 

 situation. Thus did they spend the heat of the day, pre- 

 paring for their Migration, and as it were consulting when 

 and where they are to go! The flight about the church 

 consisted chiefly of house martins, about 400 in number: 

 but there were other places of rendezvous about the village, 

 frequented at the same time. The swallows seem to delight 

 more in holding their assemblies on trees. Such sights 

 as these fill me with enthusiasm ! and make me cry out 

 involuntarily, 



" Amusive birds ! say where your hid retreat, 

 When the frost rages, and the tempests beat ! "* 



We have very great oaks here also on absolute sand. 

 For over Wolmer forest, at Bramshot place where I visit, 

 I measured last summer three great hollow oaks, which 

 made a very grotesque appearance at the entrance of the 

 avenue, and found the largest 21 feet in girth at five feet 

 from the ground. The largest Sycamore in my friend's 

 court measures 13 feet. His edible chestnuts grow amazingly, 

 but make (for some have been felled) vile shaky, cupshaky 

 timber. I think the oak on sands is shaky, as it is also 



* A quotation from 'The Naturalist's Summer Evening Walk,' appended 

 to Letter XXIV. to Pennant. 



