and house-martin, are remarkably gentle and domes- 

 ticated, 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 vil- 

 lage ; 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 inclosure, and faces 

 upon a large and beautiful lake. 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 de- 

 grees of architectonic skill Providence has endowed 

 birds of the same genus, and so nearly correspondent 

 in their general mode of life ! * For while the swal- 



* " Each creature hath a wisdom of its own ; 



The pigeons feed their tender offspring, crying, 

 When they are callow, but withdraw their food 

 When they are fledged, that they may teach them flying." 



Herbert. 



15 



