2i8 "The Natural History of Selborne 



conclude that by that time the first flight is pretty well over. The 

 young of this species do not quit their abodes all together ; but the 

 more forward birds get abroad some days before the rest. These 

 approaching the eaves of buildings, and playing about before them, 

 make people think that several old ones attend one nest. They are 

 often capricious in fixing on a nesting-place, beginning many edifices 

 and leaving them unfinished ; * but when once a nest is completed 

 in a sheltered place, it serves for several seasons. Those which 

 breed in a ready-finished house get the start in hatching of those 

 that build new by ten days or a fortnight. These industrious 

 artificers are at their labours in the long days before four in the 

 morning. When they fix their materials they plaster them on with 

 their chins, moving their heads with a quick vibratory motion. They 

 dip and wash as they fly sometimes in very hot weather, but not so 

 frequently as swallows. It has been observed that martins usually 

 build to a north-east or north-west aspect, that the heat of the sun 

 may not crack and destroy their nests; but instances are also remem- 

 bered where they bred for many years in vast abundance in a hot 

 stifled inn-yard against a wall facing to the south. 



Birds in general are wise in their choice of situation ; but in this 

 neighbourhood every summer is seen a strong proof to the contrary 

 at an house without eaves in an exposed district, where some martins 

 build year by year in the corners of the windows. But, as the 

 corners of these windows (which face to the south-east and south- 

 west) are too shallow, the nests are washed down every hard rain ; 

 and yet these birds drudge on to no purpose from summer to 

 summer, without changing their aspect or house. It is a piteous 

 sight to see them labouring when half their nest is washed away and 

 bringing dirt . . . ''generis lapsi sarcire ruinas" Thus is instinct 

 a most wonderful unequal faculty ; in some instances so much above 

 reason, in other respects so far below it ! Martins love to frequent 

 towns, especially if there are great lakes and rivers at hand ; nay 

 they even affect the close air of London. And I have not only seen 

 them nesting in the Borough, but even in the Strand and Fleet 



1 This is usually due either to hostile demonstrations on the part of sparrows, 

 or to difficulty in making the walls hang together in the particular situation. ED. 



