the morning : when they fix their materials they plas- 

 ter them on with their chins, moving their heads with 

 a quick vibratory motion. They dip and wash as they 

 fly sometimes in very hot weather, but not so fre- 

 quently as swallows. It has been observed that mar- 

 tins usually build to a north-east or north west aspect, 

 that the heat of the sun may not crack and destroy 

 their nests; but instances are also remembered where 

 they bred for many years in vast abundance in a hot 

 stifled inn-yard, against a wall facing to the south. 



Birds in general are wise in their choice of situ- 

 ation ; but in this neighbourhood every summer is 

 seen a strong proof to the contrary at a house with- 

 out eaves in an exposed district, where some martins 

 build year by year in the corners of the windows. 

 But as the corners of these windows (which face to 

 the south-east and south-w^est) are too shallow, the 

 nests are washed down every hard rain ; and yet 

 these birds drudge on to no purpose from summer 

 to summer, wdthout changing their aspect or house. 

 It is a piteous sight to see them labouring when 

 half their nest is w^ashed away, and bringing dirt ''to 

 patch the ruins of a fallen race generis lapsi 

 sarcire ruinas." Thus is instinct a most wonderful 

 but unequal faculty; in some instances so much 

 above reason, in other respects so far below it ! 

 Martins love to frequent towms, especially if there 

 are great lakes and rivers at hand ; nay, they even 

 affect the close air of London. And I have not only 



i6 199 



