CHAPTER VI. 



THE MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS. 



Str.'VXGE conjectures were long indulged vnih reference to the disappearance of some 

 birds. Thus, it was alleged and believed that swallows lie concealed in fissures of rocks, 

 in sand-banks, in the holes of decayed trees, and even at the bottom of the water in 

 ponds, remaining during the winter in a torpid state. " It is certain," says Johnston, the 

 Dutch naturalist, " that in hollow trees, lying many close together, they preserve them- 

 selves by mutual heat." Other authors relate that " upon cutting up a rotten oak tree, 

 it has been found full of swallows." And the Hon. Daines Barrington saj-s that the 

 Rev. Mr. Conway, of Lychton, Flintshire, " on looking down an old lead mine in that 

 county, observed numbers of swallows clinging to the timbers of the shaft, seemingly 

 asleep ; and on flinging some gravel on them, they just ilioved, but never attempted to 

 fly or change their place." 



A conAincing proof that swallows do not become torpid in winter may be derived 

 from those which have been successfully kept in cages. Dr. Reeves says he has kno«ni 

 several attempts made to keej) swallows in a warm room during winter without success, 

 but M. Natterer, a celebrated continental natm-alist, kept a number of swallows in 

 cages^or eight or nine years together ; and in tliis country they have been successfully 

 reared by Mr. Pearson. 



"Five or six of these birds," says Bewick, "were taken about the latter end of 

 August, 1784, in a bat fowling-nct at night ; thcj' were put separately into small 

 cages, and fed with nightingale's food ; in about a Aveek or ten days they took food of 

 themselves, and seemed much strengthened by it ; they were then put all together into a 

 deep cage, four feet long, with gravel at the bottom ; a broad shalloM- ]ian was placed in 

 it, in which they sometimes washed themselves. One day Mr. Pearson observed that 

 they went into the water with unusual eagerness, hurrying in and out again repeatedly 

 with such swiftness, as if they had been suddenly seized with a frenzy. Being an.xious 

 to see the result, ho left them to themselves about lialf an hour, and going to the cage, 

 found them all hmldled together in a corner apparently dead ; the cage was then placed 

 at a proper tlistance from the iii'e, when only two of them recovered, and were as healthy 

 as before; the rest died. The two remaining were allfiwed to wash themselves 

 occaslonallj' for a short time only, liul their feet soon after became swelled and inflamed, 

 which Mr. Pearson attributed to their ju'rching, and they died about Christmas; thus 

 the first year's experiment was in some measure lost. Not discouraged by the failure of 

 this, Mr. Pearson determined to make a second trial the succeeding year, from a strong 

 desire of being couNanced of the truth respecting their going into a state of torpidity. 

 Accordingl}', the next season, having taken some birds, he put them into the cage, and 

 in every respect pursued the same method as with the last ; but to guard their feet from 

 the bad effects of the damp and cold, he covered the perches with flannel, and had the 

 pleasure to observe that the bu'ds thi'ovc extremely well ; they smig their song through 



