to make some search about the south-east end of the 

 hill, where I imagined they might slumber out the 

 uncomfortable months of winter. But supposing 

 that the examination would be made to the best ad- 

 vantage in the spring, and observing that no martins 

 had appeared by the nth of April last, on that day I 

 employed some men to explore the shrubs and cavi- 

 ties of the suspected spot. The persons took pains, 

 but without any success ; however, a remarkable in- 

 cident occurred in the midst of our pursuit — while 

 the labourers were at work a house-martin, the first 

 that had been seen this year, came down the village 

 in the sight of several people, and went at once into 

 a nest, where it stayed a short time, and then flew 

 over the houses ; for some days after no martins 

 were observed, not till the i6th of April, and then 

 only a pair. Martins in general were remarkably 

 late this year. 



"— — — —daffodils 

 That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty." 



Selborne, Sept. 3, 1781. 



148 



