mon, between Hadleigh and Frensham, several sand- 

 martins playing in and out and hanging before some 

 nest-holes where the birds nestle. 



" This incident confirms my suspicions, that this 

 species of hirundo is to be seen the first of any, and 

 gives reason to suppose that they do not leave their 

 wild haunts at all, but are secreted amidst the clefts 

 and caverns of these abrupt cliffs. The late severe 

 weather considered, it is not very probable that 

 these birds should have migrated so early from a 

 tropical region, through all these cutting winds and 

 pinching frosts ; but it is easy to suppose that they 

 may, like bats and flies, have been awakened by the 

 influence of the sun, amidst their secret latebrce 

 where they have spent the uncomfortable foodless 

 months in a torpid state, and in the profoundest 

 slumbers. 



" There is a large pond at West Hanger which 

 induces these sand-martins to frequent the district ; 

 for I have ever remarked that they haunt near great 

 waters, either rivers or lakes." 



A year later, he says, '' During the severe winds 

 that often prevail late in the spring, it is not easy to 

 say how the hirundines subsist : for they withdraw 

 themselves, and are hardly ever seen, ncr do any in- 

 sects appear for their support. That they can retire 

 to rest and sleep away these uncomfortable periods 

 as bats do, is a matter rather suspected than proved ; 



or do they not rather spend their time in deep and 



36 



