SWALLOWS RINGOUSELS. 79 



windows of that college. I have frequently re- 

 marked that swallows are seen later at Oxford 

 than elsewhere ; is it owing to the vast, massy 

 buildings of that place, to the many waters round 

 it, or to what else ? 



When I used to rise in a morning last autumn, 

 and see the swallows and martins clustering on 

 the chimneys and thatch of the neighbouring 

 cottages, I could not help being touched with a 

 secret delight, mixed with some degree of morti- 

 fication : with delight, to observe with how much 

 ardour and punctuality those poor little birds 

 obeyed the strong impulse towards migration, or 

 hiding, imprinted on their minds by their great 

 Creator ; and with some degree of mortification, 

 when I reflected that, after all our pains and 

 inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what 

 regions they do migrate ; and are still farther 

 embarrassed to find that some do not actually 

 migrate at all. 



These reflections made so strong an impression 

 on my imagination, that they became productive 

 of a composition that may perhaps amuse you for 

 a quarter of an hour when next I have the honour 

 of writing to you. 



XXIV. 



THE srarab&us fullo I know very well, having 

 seen it in collections ; but have never been able 

 to discover one wild in its natural state. Mr. 

 Banks told me he thought it might be found 

 on the sea-coast. 



On the 13th of April, I went to the sheep- 

 down, where the ringousels have been observed 



