LETTER XX 



TO THE SAME 



SELBORNE, Feb. 26t/t, 1774. 



DEAR SIR, The sand-martin, or bank-martin, is by 

 much the least of any of the British hirundines, and, as far 

 as we have ever seen, the smallest known hirundo, though 

 Brisson asserts that there is one much smaller, and that 

 is the hirundo esculenta. 



But it is much to be regretted that it is scarce possible 

 for any observer to be so full and exact as he could 

 wish in reciting the circumstances attending the life and 

 conversation of this little bird, since it is fera natura, at least 

 in this part of the kingdom, disclaiming all domestic attach- 

 ments, and haunting wilds heaths and commons where 

 there are large lakes ; while the other species, especially 

 the swallow and house-martin, are remarkably gentle and 

 domesticated, and never seem to think themselves safe but 

 under the protection of man. 



Here are in this parish, in the sand-pits and banks of 

 the lakes of Woolmer- forest, several colonies of these 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 Wykehams stables ; but then this wall stands in a very 

 sequestered and retired enclosure, and faces upon a large 

 and beautiful lake. And indeed this species seems so to 



delight in large waters, that no instance occurs of their 



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