OF SELBORNE. 291 



One of my neighbours, an intelligent and observing man, 

 informs me that, in the beginning of May, and about ten 

 minutes before eight o'clock in the evening, he discovered a 

 great cluster of house-swallows, thirty at least, he supposes, 

 perching on a willow that hung over the verge of James 

 Knight's upper pond. His attention was first drawn by 

 the twittering of these birds, which sat motionless in a row 

 on the bough, with their heads all one way, and, by their 

 weight, pressing down the twig so that it nearly touched the 

 water. In this situation he watched them till he could see 

 no longer. Repeated accounts of this sort, spring and fall, 

 induce us greatly to suspect that house swallows have some 

 -strong attachment to water, independent of the matter of 

 food ; and, though they may not retire into that element, 

 yet they may conceal themselves in the banks of pools and 

 rivers during the uncomfortable months of winter. 1 



One of the keepers of Wolmer Forest sent me a> pere- 

 grine falcon, which he shot on the verge of that district as 

 it was devouring a wood-pigeon. The Falco peregrinus, or 

 liaggard falcon, is a noble species of hawk seldom seen in 

 the southern counties. 2 In winter, 1767, one was killed in 

 the neighbouring parish of Faringdon, and sent by me to 

 Mr. Pennant into North Wales. 3 Since that time I have 

 met with none till now. The specimen mentioned above 

 was in fine preservation, and not injured by the shot; it 



White supposed. His description of its appearance and habits points to 

 the lesser whitethroat. ED. 



1 This attachment of swallows to the neighbourhood of water at 

 roosting-time may be easily accounted for by the circumstance that the 

 willow brandies not only afford them most convenient perches, but 

 enable the birds to crowd close together and so secure greater warmth 

 to individuals than they could possibly enjoy if each roosted upon a 

 separate twig in trees or shrubs of different growth. The noisy flut- 

 tering which ensues in a struggle for inside places must frequently have 

 attracted the notice of attentive observers. ED. 



2 The peregrine breeds in the sea-cM's of Sussex, Dorset, and the 

 Isle of Wight, and doubtless did so in the days of Gilbert White, al- 

 though the fact was unknown to him. ED. 



8 See my tenth and eleventh [and twelfth] Letters to that gentleman. 

 G. W. 



