OBSEETATIOXS ON BIEDS. 325 



liiat these birds sliould liave migrated so early from a tropical 

 region, through all tliese cutting winds and pinching frosts • 

 but it is easy to suppose that they may, like bats and flies, 

 have been awakened by the influence of the sun amidst their 

 secret latehr<x, where they liave spent the uncomfortable 

 foodless months in a torpid state, and the profoundest of 

 slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wish-Hanger, which induces 

 these sand-martins to frequent that district. For I have 

 <^ver remarked that they haunt near great waters, either 

 rivers or lakes. AVhite. 



Here, and in many other passages of his writings, tliis 

 very ingenious naturalist favours the opinion that part, at 

 least, of the swallow tribe pass their winter in a torpid state, 

 in the same manner as bats and flies, and revive again on the 

 approach of spring. 



I have frequently taken notice of all these circumstances, 

 which induced Mr. AVhite to suppose that some of the 

 liirundines lie torpid dinging winter. I have seen, so late as 

 JS^ovember, on a finer day than usual at that season of the 

 year, two or thre-e swallows flying backwards and forwards 

 under a warm hedge, or on the sunny side of some old 

 building ; nay, I once saw, on the 8th of December, two 

 martins flying about very briskly, the weather bemg mild. 

 I had not seen any considerable number, either of swallows 

 or martins, for a good while before : from whence, then, 

 could these few birds come, if not from some hole or cavern 

 where they had laid themselves up for tlie winter ? Surely 

 it will not be asserted that these birds migrate back again, 

 from some distant tropical region, merely on the appearance 

 of a fine day or two at this late season of the year. Again, 

 very early in the spring, and sometimes immediately after 

 very cold, severe weather, on its growing a little warmer, a 

 few of these birds suddenly make their appearance, long 

 before the generality of them are seen. These appearances 

 certainly favour the opinion of their passing the winter in a 

 torpid state, but do not absolutely prove the fact ; for who 

 ever saw them reviving of their own accord from tlieir torpid 

 state, without being first brought to the fire, and, as it were, 

 forced into life again ; soon after which revivification, they 

 constantly die. Maekwick. 



