OF SELBORNE. 
Ill 
and a crowd may make each individual appear safer from 
the ravages of birds of prey and other dangers. 
If I admire when I see how much congenerous birds love 
to congregate, I am the more struck when I see incon- 
gruous ones in such strict amity. If we do not much 
wonder to see a flock of rooks usually attended by a train 
of daws, yet it is strange that the former should so fre- 
quently have a flight of starlings for their satellites. Is it 
because rooks have a more discerning scent than their 
attendants, and can lead them to spots more productive of 
food ? Anatomists say that rooks, by reason of two large 
nerves which run down between the eyes into the upper 
mandible, have a more delicate feeling in their beaks than 
other round-billed birds, and can grope for their meat when 
out of sight. Perhaps, then, their associates attend them 
on the motive of interest, as greyhounds when on the 
motions of their finders ; and as lions are said to do on the 
yelpings of jackals. Lapwings and starlings sometimes 
associate. 
LETTER XIL 
TO THE HONOUKABLE DAINES BARRINGTON. 
March 9, 1772. 
S a gentleman and myself were walking on 
the 4th of last November round the sea- 
banks at I^ewhaven, near the mouth of the 
Lewes river, in pursuit of natural knowledge, 
we were surprised to see three house swallows 
gliding very swiftly by us. That morning was rather chilly, 
with the wind at north-west ; but the tenor of the weather 
for some time before had been delicate, and the noons re- 
markably warm. From this incident, and from repeated 
accounts which I meet with, I am more and more induced 
to believe that many of the swallow kind do not depart 
from this island; but lay themselves up in holes and 
