_— = 
w =. . 
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. . 25 
martins, about-4oo in number ; but there are other places of 
rendezvous above the village frequented at the same time. 
“It is remarkable that though most of them sit on the 
battlements and roof, yet many hang or cling for some time 
by their claws against the surface of the walls, in a manner 
not practised by them at any other time of their remaining 
with us. 
“The swallows seem to delight more in holding their assem- 
blies on trees. 
“ November 3rd, 1789. Two swallows were seen this morn- 
ing at Newton vicarage house, hovering and settling on the 
roofs and out-buildings. None have been observed at Selborne 
since October 11th. It is very remarkable that after the 
hirundines have disappeared for some weeks, a few are occa- 
sionally seen again ; sometimes in the first week in November, 
- and that only for one day. Do they not withdraw and slumber 
in some hiding-place in the interval? For we cannot suppose 
they had emigrated to warmer climes and so returned again 
for one day. Is it not more probable that they are awakened 
from sleep, and like the bats, are come forth to collect a little 
food? Bats appear at all seasons through the autumn and 
spring months, when the thermometer is at 50°, because then 
moths are stirring. These swallows looked like young ones.’’] 
A little yellow bird still continues to make a sibilous shiver- 
ing noise in the tops of tall woods. The Svtoparo/a of Ray (for 
which we have as yet no name in these parts) is called in your 
zoology the fly-catcher. There is one circumstance charac- 
teristic of this bird which seems to have escaped observation, 
and that is, it takes its stand on the top of some stake or post, 
_ from whence it springs forth on its prey, catching a fly in the 
air, and hardly ever touching the ground, but returning still to 
the same stand for many times together. 
I perceive there are more than one species of the MWoftacilla 
trochilus: Mr, Derham supposes, in “ Ray’s Philos. Letters,” 
