54 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



week in January, he espied three or four swallows huddled together on 

 the moulding of one of the windows of that college. I have frequently 

 remarked that swallows are seen later at Oxford than elsewhere ; is it 

 owing to the vast massy buildings of that place, to the many waters 

 round it, or to what else 1 * 



When I used to rise in a morning last autumn, and see the swallows 

 and martins clustering on the chimneys and thatch of the neighbouring 

 cottages, I could not help being touched with a secret delight, mixed 

 with some degree of mortification ; with delight, to observe with how 

 much ardour and punctuality those poor little birds obeyed the strong 

 impulse towards migration, or hiding, imprinted on the" ir minds by their 

 great Creator ; and with some degree of mortification, when I reflected 

 that, after all our pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to 

 what regions they do migrate ; and are still farther embarrassed to find 

 that some do not actually migrate at all. 



These reflections made so strong an impression on my imagination, 

 that they became productive of a composition that may perhaps amuse 

 you for a quarter of an hour when next I have the honour of writing 

 to you. 



* This letter is a reply to some of Mr. Pennant's inquiries, and is remarkable 

 for the very distinct observations made upon the swallows. In a small pamphlet 

 printed at Rotherham in 1815, the author of which we never ascertained, there 

 are some observations made that agree with many of those recorded by Mr. White. 

 These were also made by a clergyman, as it is told in his short preface, " to rescue 

 a beautiful and instructive phenomenon from oblivion, and to render it subservient 

 to the moral improvement of his numerous and highly respected charge. " 



" Early in the month of September, 1815, the swallows began to assemble in the 

 neighbourhood of Rotherham, at the willow ground near the glass-house on the 

 banks of the canal, preparatory to then- migration to a warmer climate, and their 

 numbers were daily augmented until they became a vast flock which no man 

 could easily number. It was then- manner while there, to rise from the willows 

 in the morning a little before six o'clock, when their thick columns literally 

 darkened the sky. In the evening, about five o'clock, they began to return to their 

 station, and continued coming in from all quarters until nearly dark." The 

 year advanced, and "accordingly their mighty army broke up then- encamp- 

 ment, debouched from their retreat, and rising covered the heavens with their 

 legions ; then directed by an unerring guide took their trackless way. On the 

 day of their flight they left behind them about a hundred of then- companions, 

 after these a few stragglers only remained. These might be the sick or too young 

 to attempt so great an expedition ; whether this was the fact or not they did not 

 remain after the next day." The common house swallow is seen eveiy autumn to 

 congregate in large bodies as above described. The willow aits in the Thames are 

 very favourite resorts, and we have no doubt that similar localities will, in like 

 manner, be taken advantage of. They also assemble on some bare tree, upon 

 rails and house-tops, making excursions therefrom as if to exercise their young 

 broods in flying, and at this autumnal period we have often seen them assemble 

 and roost upon the alders fringing the side of a river. While at Malvern, some 

 years since, in the month of September, the little white-rumped martin (H. urbica) 

 congregated in hundreds upon the roof, cornices, and window tops of Mr. Wilson's 

 large house there. This was continued daily until the great departure took place, 

 and in twenty-four hours only a few stragglers remained of the large concourse. 

 The balcony and windows beneath that part of the building where they "generally 

 assembled, were covered with specimens of the swallow fly (see woodcut, p. 116J. 

 We have never seen, nor do we recollect it recorded, that swifts congregate in this 

 manner before migration. 



