286 NATURAL HISTORY 



see a goldfinch or a linnet hopping, as it were, in the midst 

 of the water, and the fishes swimming in a circle round it. 

 The simple exhibition of the fishes is agreeable and pleasant, 

 but in so complicated a way becomes whimsical and un- 

 natural, and liable to the objection due to him, 

 " Qui variare cuoit rem prodigialiter unam." 



LETTER LV. 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON. 



October 10, 1781. , 



THINK I have observed before that much 

 the most considerable part of the house 

 martins withdraw from hence about the first 

 week in October ; but 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 re- 

 solved to pay uncommon attention to these 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 districts, 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 evenings together, just at a quarter 

 past five in the afternoon, they all scudded away in great 

 haste towards the south-east, and darted down among the 



