274 NATURAL HISTORY 



hey were supposed to have been gone for 

 more than a fortnight. They therefore 

 withdraw with us the latest of any species. 

 Unless these birds are very short-lived in- 

 deed, or unless they do not return to the 

 district where they are bred, they must 

 undergo vast devastations some how, and 

 some where ; for the birds that return 

 yearly bear no manner of proportion to the 

 birds that retire. 



House-martins are distinguished from 

 their congeners by having their legs co- 

 vered with soft downy feathers down to 

 their toes. They are no songsters ; but 

 twitter in a pretty inward soft manner in 

 their nests. During the time of breeding 

 they are often greatly molested with fleas. 



I am, &c. 



