3 3 8 . The Natural History of Selborne 



men to explore the shrubs and cavities of the suspected spot. The 

 persons took pains, but without any success ; however, a remark- 

 able incident occurred in the midst of our pursuit ; while the 

 labourers were at work, a house-martin, the first that had been seen 

 this year, came down the village in the sight of several people, and 

 went at once into a nest, where it stayed a short time, and 

 then flew over the houses ; for some days after no martins were 

 observed, not till the i6th of April, and then only a pair. Martins 

 in general were remarkably late this year. 



