56 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



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 remembered 

 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 ex- 

 posed 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 'Street ; but then it was obvious from the dinginess of 

 their aspect that their feathers partook of the filth of that 

 sooty atmosphere. Martins are by far the least agile of the 

 four species ; their wings and tails are short, and therefore 

 they are not capable of such surprising turns and quick 

 and glancing evolutions as the swallow. Accordingly they 

 make use of a placid easy motion in a middle region of the 

 air, seldom mounting to any great height, and never sweep- 

 ing long together over the surface of the ground or water. 

 They do not wander far for food, but affect sheltered dis- 

 tricts, over some lake, or under some hanging wood, or in 

 some hollow vale, especially in windy weather. They 



