OF SELBORNE. 369 



way ; for they cause a glass bowl to be blown with a 

 large hollow space within, that does not communicate 

 with it. In this cavity they put a bird occasionally; 

 so that you may see a goldfinch or a linnet hopping as 

 it were in the midst of the water, and the fishes swim- 

 ming in a circle round it. The simple exhibition of the 

 fishes is agreeable and pleasant ; but in so complicated 

 a way becomes whimsical and unnatural, and liable to 

 the objection due to him, 



" Qui variare cupit rem prodigialit^r imam." 



I am, &c. 



LETTER LV. 



TO THE SAME. 

 DEAR SIR, October 10, 1781. 



I THINK I have observed before, that much the most 

 considerable part of the house martins withdraw from 

 hence about the first week in October ; but that some, 

 the latter broods, I am now convinced, linger on till 

 towards the middle of that month ; and that at times, 

 once perhaps in two or three years, a flight, for one day 

 only, has shown itself in the first week in November. 



Having taken notice, in October, 1780, that the last 

 flight was numerous, amounting perhaps to one hundred 

 and fifty; and that the season was soft and still; I was 

 resolved to pay uncommon attention to these late birds; 

 to find, if possible, where they roosted, and to deter- 

 mine the precise time of their retreat. The mode of 

 life of these latter Hirundines is very favourable to such 

 a design ; for they spend the whole day in the sheltered 

 district, between me and the Hanger, sailing about in a 

 placid, easy manner, and feasting on those insects 

 which love to haunt a spot so secure from ruffling 

 winds. As my principal object was to discover the 



B B 



