I think I have observed before that much the most considerable part
of the house-martins withdraw from hence about the first week in
October; but that some, the latter broods I am now convinced,
linger on till towards the middle of that month: and that at times,
once perhaps in two or three years, a flight, for one day only, has
shown itself in the first week of November.

Having taken notice, in October 1780, that the last flight was
numerous, amounting perhaps to one hundred and fifty; and that
the season was soft and still; I was resolved to pay uncommon
attention to these late birds; to find, if possible, where they roosted,
and to determine the precise time of their retreat. The mode of life
of these latter hirundines is very favourable to such a design; for
they spend the whole day in the sheltered district, between me and
the Hanger, sailing about in a placid, easy manner, and feasting on
those insects which love to haunt a spot so secure from ruffling
winds. As my principal object was to discover the place of their
roosting, I took care to wait on them before they retired to rest, and
was much pleased to find that, for several evenings together, just at
a quarter past five in the afternoon, they all scudded away in great
haste towards the south-east, and darted down among the low
shrubs above the cottages at the end of the hill. This spot in many
respects seems to be well calculated for their winter residence: for
in many parts it is as steep as the roof of any house, and therefore
secure from the annoyances of water; and it is moreover clothed
with beechen shrubs, which, being stunted and bitten by sheep,
make the thickest covert imaginable; and are so entangled as to be
impervious to the smallest spaniel: besides, it is the nature of
underwood beech never to cast its leaf all the winter; so that, with
the leaves on the ground and those on the twigs, no shelter can be