The Natural History of Selborne 4.19 



sometimes in the first week in November, and that only for one 

 day. Do they not withdraw and slumber in some hiding-place in 

 the interval ? For we cannot suppose they had emigrated to 

 warmer climes and so returned again for one day. Is it not more 

 probable that they are awakened from sleep, and, like the bats, are 

 come forth to collect a little food? Bats appear at all seasons 

 through the autumn and spring months, when the thermometer is 

 at 50, because then phalaenas and moths are stirring. 

 These swallows looked like young ones. WHITE. 



Of their migration the proofs are such as will scarcely admit of a 

 doubt. Sir Charles Wager and Captain Wright saw vast flocks of 

 them at sea, when on their passage from one country to another. 

 Our author, Mr. White, saw what he deemed the actual migration 

 of these birds, and which he has described at p. 259 of his 

 "History of Selborne"; and of their congregating together on 

 the roofs of churches and other buildings, and on trees, previous to 

 their departure, many instances occur ; particularly I once observed 

 a large stock of house-martins on the roof of the church here 

 at Catsfield, which acted exactly in the manner here described by 

 Mr. White, sometimes preening their feathers and spreading their 

 wings to the sun, and then flying off" all together, but soon return- 

 ing to their former situation. The greatest part of these birds seem 

 to be young ones. MARKWICK. 



WAGTAILS. 



WHILE the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures, broods of 

 wagtails, white and grey, run round them, close up to their noses, 

 and under their very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that 

 settle on their legs, and probably finding worms and larvae that are 

 roused by the trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, 

 that the most incongruous animals can avail themselves of each 

 other. 



Interest makes strange friendships. WHITE. 



