Dlfappearance'of Sxvallotus in Autumn. 415 



. who flopped and examined the birds we had dug out of the 

 liill ; whereupon a converfation took place relative to the 

 migration of the fwallows. The. gentlemen both agreed that 

 they were preparing for their winter cjuartersj and one of 

 them farther added, that he fupppfpcl that numbers of them 

 kept in a meadow clofe by. Thefe obfervations made fuch 

 ftrong impreffions on my mind_, that they have never fince 

 been erafed. 



After our revolutionary war was over, and my return 

 again into this city in 1783, in order to be convinced of the 

 truth on this curious and controverted fubjeft, I made it a 

 pra£lice to walk around the Collect *, mornings and even- 

 ings, in the feafons when they affembled, in order to mark 

 their flight Or return again; but could not difcern any thing 

 material until tlie 3d infiant. As I was Handing at my door 

 between the hours of five and fix in the morning, I obferved 

 a verv large flock of fwallov^s flying in an eafterly direction. 

 J immediately repaired to the pond, where there was already 

 a vaft number collefted in the reeds and rudies. They con- 

 tinued coming for nearly the fpace of half an hour, and vafl: 

 numbers of then", were flying over the water in almoft every 

 direction. Some of thefe birds appeared to run on the fur- 

 face of the water with great rapidity towards the eafl; corner 

 of the pond, and, in the twinkling of an eye, difappeared 

 imder the water and rofe no more. 



They fecmcd to crowd principally towards that particular 

 fpot. But what is fomewhat remarkable, ar^c). deferves par- 

 ticular notice, is, that among them I obferved a number 

 of white ones intermixed with the reft. While I was ftand- 

 ing on the edge of the pond with my fpy-glafs, Mr. Brooks, 

 a particular acquaintance of mine, who lives near the place, 

 came towards me; I mentioned my errand to him. He 

 flrood with me a confiderablc time, and faw the fame. I 

 obferved to him that tliere_^were white ones among them. 



• y\ pcnii of ftelh wutcr adjoininij a niaidi in the vicinity of thu; city of 



Ncw-Vo.k. 



lie 



