134 CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 



versify, because, I trust, you will make the best use of this 

 advantage, both in your literary pursuits, and by improvement 

 in the knowledge of men and manners. As to a proper ac- 

 quaintance, you have nothing to do but to lie by, and act a 

 little on the reserve, and you will soon discern what young 

 men are suitable to your purpose ; and besides, young people 

 of your own turn, when they know you a little, will naturally 

 make some advances. 



All the house-martins withdrew about the 7th of Oct., and 

 seemed gone to a bird 'til Nov. 4th, when 21 were seen play- 

 ing about under the Hanger all day, and for that day only. 

 The circumstance seems the more odd and amusing to me, 

 because I have known it befal more than once or twice. 

 Where were they during the interval? and where are they 

 now ? This event militates strongly against emigration, and 

 in favour of hiding. The bats do just the same all the winter 

 and spring ; they sleep at intervals, and then come forth, and 

 feed, and retire again. 



The order of Polygamic frustranea is constituted, you know, 

 from having the florets of the disk hermaphrodite, and those 

 of the radius neuter. Not knowing where to apply for a 

 common knapweed * in bloom, I know not how to solve your 

 difficulty. The district round Cambridge will furnish you in 

 the summer with the great aquatics. When you are a little 

 at leisure, I shall always be glad to hear from you. 



I am your affectionate friend, 



GIL. WHITE. 



Don't fail to practise frequently in writing English. 

 * [Centaurea scabiosa. — T. B.] 



