780 
1 
The latter species, however, still find ample accommodation on 
the cross-rafters of barns and boat-houses, in the roofs and 
chambers of corn and water mills, or similar erections, both in 
town and country, and especially near the streams they love 
to frequent. In suj^port, however, of my architectural theory 
as regards the House Martin, I may remark that I have 
particularly noticed of late that where new houses have been erected 
after the olden style, Avhether large or small, there the House 
Martins congregate as soon as comjDleted j in support of which 
I may instance the highly ornamental houses on the high road at 
Brundall, overlooking the river, and some ornamental cottages at 
Horthrepj^s, where, as Mr. Gurney tells me, these birds located 
themselves from the first, and with many “ coigns of vantage ” for 
their nests in gables and projecting brickwork, built on all sides, 
apparently indiiferent to aspect. Hothing suits them better than a 
fancy cornice, with the nest recessed between two projecting bricks, 
giving a firm hold on either side ; whilst, on a flat surface, we often 
see three nests clinging, as it were, to each other, and the loosening 
of one, when the young are hatched, is probably the downfall 
of a colony. 
Mr. Cremer, of Beeston, near Cromer, informed me that, this 
year and last, he had two pairs of Nightingales in his grounds, for 
the first time, to his knowledge ; and on the evening of the 
20th of May, I heard one in full song in Mr. Eirkbeck’s shrubbery, 
next the lighthouse hill, at Cromer, indifferent to the most cutting 
north-east wind that made one shiver in listening to him. There 
they are not uncommon. 
June and July were equally disagreeable months, through an 
exceedingly low temperature. Cold winds and much rain, and a 
minimum of sunshine, made fires a necessity ; and if we had no 
snow, as was the case in Scotland, in June, wo had heavy hail- 
storms about the same date. In each month, liowever, the weather 
became finer and warmer about the last week. 
The effect of such an inclement season, upon the Hirundines 
generally, was very marked, in June, especially, when nesting 
operations appeared to cease, for a time, altogether ; and the birds, 
quitting their usual haunts, spent their days over the rivers and 
meadoAvs for the little insect food to be found even in such 
