NATURAL HISTORY Of 1 SELBORNE. 169 



that there is one much smaller, and that is the Hirundo 

 esculenta. 



But it is much to bo 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 conversa- 

 tion of this little bird, since it is fera naturd, at least in 

 this part of the kingdom, disclaiming all domestic attach- 

 ments, and haunting wild 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 Wolmer 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 Wykeham's 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 

 abounding but near vast pools or rivers ; and in particular 

 it has been remarked that they swarm in the banks of the 

 Thames in some places below London bridge. 



It is curious to observe with what different degrees of 

 architectonic skill Providence has endowed birds of the 

 same genus, and so nearly correspondent in their general 

 mode of life ! for while the swallow and the house-martin 

 discover the greatest address in raising and securely fixing 

 crusts or shells of loam as cunabula for their young, the 



