The Natural History of Selborne

Early tulips blow.  A pair of house-martins appear, & frequent the nest at the end of the house; a single one also wants to go in.  THese must be of the family bred there last year.  The nest was built last summer. The martins throw the rubbish out of their nest.  Bank-martins abound on short-heath: they come full as soon as the house-swallow.  Two swans inhabit Oakhanger-ponds: they came of themselves in the winter with three more.  Pulled won many old House-martin’s nests; they were full of rubbish, & the exuviae of the Hippobosca hirundinis in the pupa state.  These insects obtain so much sometimes in yir nests, as to render the place insupportable to the young, & to oblige them to throw themselves to the ground.  The case is the same sometimes with young swifts.