The Natural History of Selborne

Planted 150 cabbages to stand the winter: dunged the ground.  Grapes all very bad.  Two swallows were seen this morning at Newton vicarage house, hovering & settling on the roofs, & outbuildings.  None have been observed at Selborne since Octobr. 11.  It is very remarkable, that after the hirundines have disappeared for some weeks, a few are occasionally seen again sometimes, in the first week of November, & that only for one day.  Do they withdraw & slumber in some hiding-place during the interval? for we cannot suppose they had migrated to warmer climes, & so returned again for one day.  Is it not more probable that they are awakened from sleep, & like the bats are come forth to collect a little food?  Bats appear at all seasons through the autumn & spring months, when the Thermomr is at 50, because then phalaenae & moths are stirring.  These swallows looked like young ones.