158 Hirundo fulva of Veillot. 



nected with its food. The periodical appearance of this bird, 

 at the most propitious season of the year, has greatly enhanced 

 its importance. The Rhodians had a solemn song to welcome 

 its arrival ; and iElian declares that it was consecrated to the 

 Penates or household gods of the ancients, and protected 

 from molestation. 



The mystery, which has surrounded the brumal retreat of 

 this bird, has also added to its celebrity. Some have assigned 

 to it winter quarters in the moon ; others have designated its 

 hybernaculum in invisible satellites closer to the earth. Aris- 

 totle and Pliny have placed it in warm and sequestered places. 

 Olaus Magnus and Kircher have sent it to the bottom of lakes 

 and rivers ; and even in our own times, reputable men, labor- 

 ing under optical delusion, have declared that they have wit- 

 nessed its descent into the Hudson and the pond on Manhattan 

 island, called the Collect. All these speculations and conjec- 

 tures have yielded to the doctrine of emigration. Like all 

 other migrating birds, the swallow congregates in flocks at the 

 time of its departure, and probably ascends out of sight on its 

 transit. 



In Turton's edition of Linne, thirty-eight species of Hirun- 

 do are enumerated. Thirty-four with three toes before and one 

 behind, and four with the toes all placed forward. 



Of those 8 are assigned to different parts of Europe, 

 8 to Asia, 

 12 to South America, 

 4 to Africa, 



4 to North America, and 

 2 to the West Indies. 



Two of the above that are allotted to Europe are also repre- 

 sented as belonging to North America. Two also to Asia, 

 and one to both Americas. 



In England, there are but four species of Hirundo. In 

 this State, there are six or seven. Five are described in Wil- 

 son's Ornithology. 



