more complete. I watched them on to the thirteenth and fourteenth
of October, and found their evening retreat was exact and uniform;
but after this they made no regular appearance. Now and then a
straggler was seen; and on the twenty-second of October, I
observed two in the morning over the village, and with them my
remarks for the season ended.

From all these circumstances put together, it is more than probable
that this lingering flight, at so late a season of the year, never
departed from the island. Had they indulged me that autumn with a
November visit, as I much desired I presume that, with proper
assistants, I should have settled the matter past all doubt; but
though the third of November was a sweet day, and in appearance
exactly suited to my wishes, yet not a martin was to be seen; and so
I was forced, reluctantly, to give up the pursuit.

I have only to add that were the bushes, which cover some acres,
and are not my own property, to be grubbed and carefully
examined, probably those late broods, and perhaps the whole
aggregate body of the house-martins of this district, might be found
there, in different secret dormitories; and that, so far from
withdrawing into warmer climes, it would appear that they never
depart three hundred yards from the village.



Letter LVI
To The Honourable Daines Barrington

They who write on natural history cannot too frequently advert to