CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 
149 
another and another followed, the circle still revolving until 
the whole multitude had descended, except one or two. These 
flew off, as if to collect the stragglers, and, in a few seconds, 
returned, with six or eight more, which, after one or two 
rounds, dropped in one by one, and all was silence for the 
night. It seemed to me hardly possible that the internal 
surface of the vent could accommodate them all, without 
clustering on one another, which I am informed they never 
do ; and I was very desirous of observing their ascension in 
the morning, but having to set off before day, I had not that 
gratification. Mr Churchman, however, to whom I have 
since transmitted a few queries, has been so obliging as to 
inform me, that towards the beginning of June the number of 
those that regularly retired to the court-house to roost, was 
not more than one-fourth of the former ; that on the morning 
of the 23d of June, he particularly observed their reascension, 
which took place at a quarter past four, or twenty minutes 
before sunrise, and that they passed out in less than three 
minutes ; that at my request the chimney had been examined 
from above ; but that, as far down at least as nine feet, it con- 
tained no nests ; though at a former period it is certain that 
their nests were very numerous there, so that the chimney 
was almost choked, and a sweep could with difficulty get up 
it. But then it was observed that their place of nocturnal 
retirement was in another quarter of the town. 66 On the 
whole,” continues Mr Churchman, “ I am of opinion, that 
those who continue to roost at the court-house are male birds, 
or such as are not engaged in the business of incubation, as 
that operation is going on in almost every unoccupied 
chimney in town. It is reasonable to suppose, if they made 
use of that at the court-house for this purpose, at least some of 
their nests would appear towards the top, as we find such is 
the case where but few nests are in a place.” 
In a subsequent letter Mr Churchman writes as follows: — 
te After the young brood produced in the different chimneys 
in Easton had taken wing, and a week or ten days previous to 
