1793 



EAELY BANK MAETINS 265 



meet with any success, tho' Benham searched every hole 

 and every breach in the decayed roof. 



"April 9th. Thomas Knight, a sober hind, assures us 

 that this day on Wish-hanger Common between Hedleigh 

 and Frinsham he saw several Bank martins playing in and 

 out, and hanging before some nest-holes in a sand-hill, where 

 these birds usually nestle. This incident confirms my 

 suspicions, that this species of Hirundo is to be seen first 

 of any ; and gives great reason to suppose that they do not 

 leave their wild haunts at all, but are secreted amidst the 

 clefts, and caverns of these abrupt cliffs where they usually 

 spend their summers. The late severe weather considered, 

 it is not very probable that the birds should have migrated 

 so early from a tropical region thro' all these cutting 

 winds, and pinching frosts: but it is easy to suppose that 

 they may, like bats and flies, have been awakened by the 

 influence of the sun, amidst their secret Icdebrm where they 

 have spent the uncomfortable foodless months in a torpid 

 state, and the profoundest of slumbers. There is a large 

 pond at Wish-hanger which induces these sand martins to 

 frequent that district. For I have ever remarked that they 

 haunt near great waters, either rivers or lakes. 



"April 12. The nightingale was heard this harsh evening 

 near James Knight's ponds. This bird of passage, I observe, 

 comes as early in cold cutting springs as mild ones ! 



" April 29. I have seen no Hirundo yet myself. 



" May 1. There is a bird of the blackbird kind, with white 

 on the breast, that haunts my outlet as if it had a nest there. 

 Is this a ring-ouzel ? If it is, it must be a great curiosity ; 

 because they have not been known to breed in these parts. 



" May 5. Cock redstart. House-martin appears. 



"May 7-11. James Knight has observed two large field- 

 fares in the high wood lately, haunting the same part, as 

 if they intended to breed there. They are not wild. A 

 nest of this sort of bird would be a great curiosity! 



