OF BIRDS. 
z i .1 
feed out of her hands. One day the bird made its 
cfcape, it did not fly far, but buffered itfelf to be 
caught by a child, and foon after fell a prey to 
a cat. 
They leave England about the latter end of 
September, or beginning of October, and before 
their departure have been obferved to exercife 
themfelves in flying more than ufually high, as 
though preparing for a migration. 
In the Natural Hiftory of Selborne, a book of 
great merit, lately publifhed, the author fays, that 
on the 26th of November, his neighbour faw a 
Martin in a fheltered bottom chacing flies, the 
fun then fhone warm ; that on the 4th of Novem¬ 
ber he faw feveral Houfe Martins playing all day 
long over his fields. He obferves, that from the 
fituation of the Martin’s neft againft a perpendi¬ 
cular wall, it requires great effort, and judgment, 
firmly to fix the foundation that the fuperitruciure 
may be fecure. For this purpofe the bird clings 
with its claws, and ufes its tail for a fupport like a 
Woodpecker; and that the materials may not fall 
by their weight, in a foft ftate, the intelligent ar¬ 
chitect advances its work flowly, building only 
in the morning, and devoting the reft of the day 
to amufement, and the chace of infeCts. 
The parent birds remove every thing often five 
from 
