where they remain from October to February. They then 
roost in the marshes, from whence in the morning they rise 
ina spiral form to a great height and disperse to seek their 
food; when rising in this manner, he says, they resemble 
large columns of smoke.* 
A Mr. Pearson of London, some years since took great 
pains to ascertain if the swallow became torpid. For this 
purpose he confined some of them ina cage, where th 
remained in a perfectly healthy state for three or four 
years, when they died for want of attention during his ill- 
ness. 
It has been asserted, and frequently, believed that the 
rail or sora (Rallus Carolinus) also assumes a state of tor- 
pidity during winter. Although I cannot urge the rapidity 
of the flight of this bird, as a reason for its not becoming 
torpid, I can, with truth, say I believe its wings are ae 
ciently strong to carry it beyond the reach of frost. 
eee here during the winter, is it not likely it eal 
have been discerned? Yet we have not a single well au- | 
ihesiiawed relation of this. A farmer of Maryland, (Mr. 
Wilson tells us,) asserted that they changed into frogs, ie 
e found one in the very act of its transformation, an 
he showed it to one of his labourers ; but it does not ~ 
pear he ever satisfied any other person as to this fact. 
On reviewing the subject I think we may safely conclude 
that a torpid swallow never yet has had an existence. 
* My fri end Mr. Ord informs me he has seen the swallow in the south of 
France in sanehaad r, and was assured they remain there all the winter. It 
a ‘strange this fact should not have been observed ps the naturalists of 
rope. 
Fa ‘ 
coos 
