SWALLOWS. Class 11. 



four or ^wt fw allows were obferved hovering round 

 and fettling on the county hofpital at Oxford. As 

 thefe birds muft have been of a late hatch, it is 

 highly improbable that at fo late a feafon of the 

 year, they would attempt from one of our midland 

 counties, a voyage almoft as far as the equator to 

 Senegal or Goree : we are therefore confirmed in 

 our notion, that there is only a partial migration 

 of thefe birds ; and that the feeble late hatches 

 conceal themfelves in this country. 



The above, are circumftances we cannot but 

 alTent io^ though feemingly contradictory to the 

 common courfe of nature in regard to other birds. 

 We mud, therefore, divide our belief relating to 

 thefe two fo different opinions, and conclude, that 

 one part of the fwallow tribe migrate, and that 

 others have their winter quarters near home. If 

 it fhould be demanded, why fwallows alone are 

 found in a torpid Hate, and not the other many 

 fpecies of foft billed birds, which likewife difap- 

 pear about the fame time ? The following reafon 

 rnay be affigned : 



No birds are fo much on the wing as fwallows, 

 none fly with fuch fwiftnefs and rapidity, none 

 are obliged to fuch fudden and various evolutions 

 in their flight, none are at fuch pains to take their 

 prey, and we may add, none exert their voice 

 more incefllantly ; all thefe occafion a vaft expence 

 of ftrength, and of fpirits, and may give fuch a tex- 

 ture to the blood, that other animals cannot experi- 

 ence 5 



