( i6 ) 



know that the Graculii Quiscula has ever been seen immediately about Philadelphia. It is eommonly seen on or 

 near the sea-coast, and not often twenty miles distant from it. It loves the neig:hbourhood of the sea, and of 

 brackish water. The Gracula which 1 mention, in the Tables, is very common about Philadelphia, where it 

 a.«sociatcs with the Red- Wing Oriole, or Oriolus phoeniceus, and with Crows (Corvus Corone), committing 

 great depredations on the mays in the fields ; and in the Southern States, on the rice that is stacked in the barn 

 yards. Builds on trees, pretty high up, and seems, for thi.s purpose, to give a preference to the evergreens, such 

 as tall Pine-trees, &c. Our Gracula is either the Gracula Barrita, Boat-Tail-Grakle, or very nearly allied to it. 



* FringLlla pecoris. This bird certainly belongs to the same genus as the Oriolus phoeniceus, whether that be 

 Emberiza or FringiUa. It follows cows and horses, pulling asimder their excrements, in order to get at the seeds. 

 It alights on their backs, eating flies and other insects from them. In some parts of Pennsylvania, it is best known 

 by the name of Cow-Bird. It is the Sturnus stercorarius of Bartram. Travels. 



* Motacilla Sialis. This is one of our earliest singing birds. Its note is highly agreeable. It is the Tschi-hoa-pe-ke-lis 

 of the Delawares. See P. 12. Sect. III. 



* Scolopa.K Galliuagc). Scolopax americaua rufa of Bartram. Trtivch. It is the Me-me-n of the Delaware-Indians. 



* Charadi-ius vociferus. This species is observed to increase in proportion as tlie country becomes cleared. Is very 

 .seldom seen remote from the habitations of man. 



* Scolopa.x minor. Scolopax minor axvensis of Bartram. Travels. Pi-si-co-lis ? of the Delaware-Indians. 



* Hirundo purpm-ea. Puns-pau-cho-moose, or " the bird that never rests," of the Mohegan-Indians. I am of opi- 

 nion, that this and the three other species of Swallow, which I have mentioned, are migratory birds. I am not 

 ignorant, that an opposite opinion is gaining gi-ound among us. See Dr. Belknap's History of Keio Hampshire, 

 Vol. III. p. 1 74.. My friend, Mr. WiUiam Bartram, assures me, " that he has seen, in the spring, large flocks of 

 all our Swallows, upon their passage from the south, and in the autumn, on their return southward from Penn- 

 sylvania, through Carolina, to Florida, where, however, neither of them winter ; but continue farther on south- 

 ward." MS. penes me. I cannot but consider the testimony of this gentleman, in matters of this kind, as of 

 high value. Indeed, all my enquiries convince me, that om' swallows are migratory birds. I am, however, far 

 from denying, that swallows have occasionally been found in the hollows of decayed trees, in diflerent parts of our 

 country, during that very season, when it supposed these birds are in a more southern climate. I will not even 

 deny, that they have been found under the mud of rivers, &c. These, however, must be considered as extraordinary 

 instances, which very rarely occur. They only serve to show the accommodating powers of birds, which some- 

 times continue in a country the whole year through, and in other times migrate from these countries. It is not 

 diflicult to account for some of the instances of Swallows being found in trees, &c. In these instances, I presume, 

 the birds have been compelled to take up their habitations here, after their return from the south, having been 

 surprized by very cold weather. The Swallows are, certainly, very impatient of cold.f No wonder, therefore, 

 that in a climate so variable as that of Pennsylvania, these birds should sometimes retire into trees, &c. to seek shelter. 

 I have observed, that several weeks after the first appearance of the Swallows in the spring, the coming on of a 

 cold day, has occa.sioned in them great distress. The foUowiug fact will strikingly illustrate what I am saying. 

 The beginning of the month of April, 1773, was unusually warm. In the vicinity of Philadelphia, the clover, 

 in .some of the fields, was fivo or six inches high. The Martins (Iliruudo purpurea) were seen about the city : at 

 this time, there came on suddenly a very severe spell of cold weather. It destroyed many of these birds, several 

 of which wore seen to drop down, benumbed or dead, among the clover. 



If any species of om- swallows continues with us the whole year, I think it most likely to be the Iliruudo , 



or Little Bank-Mai'lin. I have been informed, that iu several instances, this species has been found in a torpid 



t M7 very respecUbk and learned friend Dr. John Walker, Professor of Natural Uistory in the Univeraity of Edinburgh, used to inform his class, that 

 ho "Once kncwaeoldni|;ht (in Scotland) to overtake the Martins (Hirundo urbica), the Swifts (Hirundo Apus), and the Swallows (Hirundo rustica), 

 which benumbed them to such a degree, that they seemed dead, but when they were brought into a warm room, they recovered, and after the sun 

 rose, they all took to the wing. Not ono of them was destroyed by the eold." 



