that some, the latter broods I am now convinced, 

 linger on till towards the middle of that month : and 

 that at times, once perhaps in two or three years, a 

 flight, for one day only, has shown itself in the first 

 week in November. 



Having taken notice, in October 1780, that the 

 last flight was numerous, amounting perhaps to one 

 hundred and fifty, and that the season was soft and 

 still, I was resolved to pay uncommon attention to 

 those late birds : to find, if possible, where they 

 roosted, and to determine the precise time of their 

 retreat. The mode of life of these latter hirundines is 

 very favourable to such a design ; for they spend the 

 whole day in the sheltered district between me and 

 the Hanger, sailing about in a placid, easy manner, 

 and feasting on those insects which love to haunt a 

 spot so secure from ruffling winds. As my principal 

 object was to discover the place of their roosting, I 

 took care to wait on them before they retired to rest, 

 and was much pleased to find that, for several even- 

 ings together, just at a quarter-past five in the after- 

 noon, they all scudded away in great haste towards 

 the south-east, and darted down among the low 

 shrubs above the cottages at the end of the hill. 

 This spot in many respects seems to be well calcu- 

 lated for their winter residence : for in many parts 

 it is as steep as the roof of any house, and therefore 

 secure from the annoyances of water ; and it is more- 

 over clothed with beechen shrubs, which, being 



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