98 REMARKS ON THE 
Nests in which young birds were found. 
Nests. Contents. 
NOs. Casesar 2 nestlings newly disengaged from the egg. 
PN ere 3 nestlings a few days old. 
$3 Blog sees 2 nestlings about a week old. 
g59 VO a Sails 2 nestlings nearly half grown. 
se Oe es 2 nestlings about three parts grown. 
Pree te Cmererers 2 nestlings nearly fledged. 
Se eee 5 nestlings nearly fledged. 
Sia teaay gtsts 1 nestling quite fledged. 
Total. .19 
From the unusual quantity of eggs and young de- 
serted by the House-Martins on this occasion, it may 
be inferred that the desire to perpetuate their species 
was protracted, in a more than ordinary number of 
individuals, to the termination of their stay in this 
country, by the high temperature of the season*, and 
the great abundance of food consequent upon it. 
The circumstance of fresh-laid eggs being in several 
instances forsaken, furnishes an additional argument 
to those previously urged against the hypothesis 
advanced by Dr. Jenner, that a premature change 
uniformly takes place in the physical condition of the 
reproductive system of those birds which abandon 
their progeny to destruction ; for it is in the highest 
degree improbable that an organic change, sufficient 
* On referring to my Meteorological Journal, I find that the 
mean temperature of the months of June, July, and August re- 
spectively was higher in 1826 than in many preceding years. 
