304 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



It is remarkable, that though most of them sit on the battle- 

 ments and roofs, yet many hang or cling for some time by their 

 claws against the surface of the walls, in a manner not practised 

 by them at any other time of their remaining with us. 



The swallows seem to delight more in holding their assem- 

 blies on trees. 



November 3, 1789. Two swallows were seen this morning 

 at Newton vicarage house, hovering and settling on the roofs 

 and out-buildings. None have been observed at Selborne 

 since October 11. It is very remarkable, that after the hirun- 

 dines have disappeared for some weeks, a few are occasionally 

 seen again ; sometimes, in the first week in November, and 

 that only for one day. Do they not withdraw and slumber in 

 some hiding-place during the interval ? for we cannot suppose 

 they had migrated to warmer climes, and so returned again for 

 one day. Is it not more probable that they are awakened 

 from sleep, and, like the bats, are come forth to collect a little 

 food ? Bats appear at all seasons through the autumn and 

 spring months, when the thermometer is at fifty, because then 

 phalcencB and moths are stirring. These swallows looked like 

 young ones. * 



WAGTAILS. While the cows are feeding in the moist low- 

 pasture, broods of wagtails, white and gray, run round them, 

 close up to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing 

 themselves of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably 

 finding worms and larvae that are roused by the trampling of 

 their feet. Nature is such an economist, that the most 



* Of their migration, the proofs are such as will scarcely admit of a 

 doubt. Sir Charles Wager and Captain Wright saw vast flocks of them 

 at sea, when on their passage from one country to another. Our author, 

 Mr White, saw what he deemed the actual migration of these birds, and 

 which he has described at p. 78 of his History of Selborne ; and of their 

 congregating together on the roofs of churches and other buildings, and 

 on trees, previous to their departure, many instances occur ; particularly, 

 I once observed a large flock of house-martens on the roof of the church 

 here at Cafcfield, which acted exactly in the manner here described by 

 Mr White, sometimes preening their feathers, and spreading their wings 

 to the sun, and then flying of all together, but soon returning to their 

 former situation. The greatest part of these birds seemed to be young 

 ones MARKWICK. 



Wilson, Audubon, and Richardson, all attest the migration of the 

 swallow and its congeners, in America ; and every author, ancient and 

 modern, of whatever country, describe these birds as changing their 

 residence during winter. ED. 



