OF selborne: 161 



Swallows and martins, the bulk of them 

 I mean, have forsaken us sooner this year 

 than usual ; for, on September the twenty- 

 second, they rendezvoused in a neighbour's 

 walnut-tree, where it seemed probable they 

 had taken up their lodging for the night. 

 At the dawn of the day, which was foggy, 

 they rose all together in infinite numbers, 

 occasioning such a rushing from the strokes 

 of their wings against the hazy air, as 

 might be heard to a considerable distance ; 

 since that no flock has appeared, only a 

 few stragglers. 



Some swifts staid late, till the twenty- 

 second of August — a rare instance ! for they 

 usually withdraw within the first week.* 



On September the twenty-fourth three or 

 four ring-ousels appeared in my fields for 

 the first time this season : how punctual 

 are these visitors in their Autumnal and 

 Spring migrations ! 



* See Letter liii. to Mr. Barrington. 



VOL. I 



M 



