NATURAL HISTORY 



Here arc in this parish, in the sand pits and banks of 

 the lakes of Wolmer Forest, several colonies of these 



SAND MARTINS' OOLO.VY AT OAKHANOBR. 



birds ; and yet they are never seen in the village ; nor 

 do they at all frequent the cottages that are scattered 

 about in that wild district. The only instance I ever 

 remember where this species haunts any building is at 

 the town of Bishop's Waltham, in this county, where 

 many sand martins nestle and breed in the scaffold 

 holes of the back wall of William of Wykeham's sta- 

 bles : but then this wall stands in a very sequestered 

 and retired enclosure, and faces upon a large and beau- 

 tiful lake. And indeed this species seems so to delight 

 in large waters, that no instance occurs of their abound- 

 ing, but near vast pools or rivers : and in particular it 

 has been remarked that they swarm in the banks of the 

 Thames in some places below London Bridge. 



It is curious to observe with what different degrees 

 of architectonic skill Providence has endowed birds of 

 the same genus, and so nearly correspondent in their 

 general mode of life ! for while the swallow and the 

 house martin discover the greatest address in raising 



