
ss 
212 THE NATURAL HISTORY 















from the neft, whilft their brood are very yo 
~The little ones foon acquire an attention to ne 
nefs themfelves, and perform that office by HN 
ting their tails out at the opening of the neft. 
~ Martins prefer a north- eaft or north-weft exp 
fure for their nefts, that they may not be crack 
and injured by the heat of the fun; yet, inftinet 
does not feem to lead them invariably right, ‘fot 
fometimes they-build in fuch fituations that theit 
nefts have been wathed down by rain, and yet 
they. perfevere year after year in the fame fitue 
ations, : 
Me White hide feen young Martins that only 
left their nefts on the 22d of OGober : from this, 
and other -obfervations, particularly from ha 
traced their evening retirement in October, 
feveral nights fucceffively, amoneft fome low 4 
Rupted fhrubs, almoft j impervious to a dog, and i 
Many parts difficult to approach, he fuppoles 
. that part of them, at leaf, mui have a wintel 
retreat in this ifland. - It is very remarkable 
that the numbers which return in the {pring, 
little proportion to thofe which withdraw the 
ceding winter. Are they deftroyed by their 
mies, or do the parents prevent the younger bro 
from fettling i in their neighbourhood? 4 
