180 NOTES FROM GRAVESEND. 



frequently questioned the labourer (who is an intelligent man) as to 

 whether it might not have been a bat ; but h,e persists in maintaining 

 his opinion, and declares he could not by possibility have been mis- 

 taken. Your correspondent T. C. seems to ridicule the idea that birds 

 could exist in this state for so long a period. What does he think of 

 that theory which supposes that they remain under water during the 

 winter, and which, absurd as it is, has met with more than one advo- 

 cate? Notwithstanding the foregoing case, however, I am bound, as 

 an impartial observer, to notice some of the arguments in favour of 

 migration, which, I must confess, are numerous and convincing. Every 

 one must have observed those immense flocks of swallows which, at the 

 time of their supposed departure, (or rather antecedently to it,) seem 

 by their rapid evolutions to be exercising their wings and strengthen- 

 ing themselves for some arduous journey. 



" The air 

 Floats as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes." 



What motive can we assign for this unusual congregation, but that 

 " intelligent of reasons," they are preparing themselves for their ap- 

 proaching migration ? I consider the objection by no means fatal 

 which asserts that they could not remain so long on the wing as the 

 supposed distance of their winter quarters must require them to do ; 

 for if we once admit the principle of migration with regard to any of 

 the feathered race, what bird is so well calculated for the undertaking 

 as the swallow, which has been always deemed the emblem of swiftness, 

 and moreover procures its food at all times in the air ? Such being the 

 case, the migration of the motacilla genus, and some others, is far more 

 surprising to me than that of the hirundines. It is well known that 

 the nightingale, for instance, scarcely moves a hundred yards from the 

 spot where he first locates himself during the whole summer ; and yet 

 we have still stronger grounds for supposing that he " wends liis way 

 to distant climes," than the swallow does so, as no one, I believe, 

 has ever asserted that the former passes the winter in a state of torpor. 

 This applies also, though not perhaps in an equal degree, to the black- 

 cap (M. atricapilla, Linnaeus), and some others, none of which are 

 remarkable for prolonged flights while in this country. 



With regard to the naturalization of the golden pheasant, and other 

 natives of the " gorgeous East," the following facts will show that it 

 might easily be effected. I had a share in bringing up two of these 

 birds, which fortunately proved male and female. They certainly 



