. OF SELBORNE. 107 



that the last flight was numerous, amount- 

 ing 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 determine the precise 

 time of their retreat. The mode of life of 

 tJiese 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 place of their roosting, 

 I took care to wait on them before they 

 retired to rest, and was much pleased to 

 find that, for several evenings together, just 

 at a quarter past five in the afternoon, they 

 all scudded away in great haste towards 

 the south east, and darted down among 

 the low shrubs above the cottages at 

 the end of the hill. This spot in many 

 respects seems to be well calculated for 

 their winter residence : for in many parts 



