MIGRATION OF SWALLOWS. 
75 
he espied three or four swallows huddled together on the mould- 
ing of one of the windows of that college. I have frequently 
remarked that swallows are seen later at Oxford than elsewhere : 
is it owing to the vast massy buildings of that place, to the many 
waters round it, or to what else ? 
When I used to rise in a morning last autumn, and see the 
swallows and martins clustering on the chimneys and thatch of 
the neighbouring cottages, I could not help being touched with 
a secret delight, mixed with some degree of mortification : with 
delight to observe with how much ardour and punctuality those 
poor little birds obeyed the strong impulse towards migration, 
or hiding, imprinted on their minds by their great Creator ; and 
with some degree of mortification, when I reflected that, after all 
our pains and enquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what re- 
gions they do migrate; and are still further embarrassed to find 
that some do not actually migrate at all. 
These reflections made so strong an impression on my ima- 
gination, that they became productive of a composition that may 
perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when next I have 
the honour of writing to you. 
LETTER XXIV. To T. PENNANT, Esq. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, May 29, 1769. 
The scarahceus fullo I know very well, having seen it in collec- 
tions ; but have never been able to discover one wild in its 
natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be found 
on the sea-coast.* 
On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep-down, where 
the ring-ousels have been observed to make their appearance at 
spring and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; and 
was much pleased to see three birds about the usual spot. We 
shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and in high condition. 
The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs within her, which 
proves they are late breeders ; whereas those species of the 
thrush kind that remain with us the whole year have fledged 
young before that time. In their crops was nothing very distin- 
guishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of vegetables 
nearly digested. In autumn they feed on haws and yew-berries, 
* It is not found in this country. — Ep. 
