174: RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



of having lately emerged from the water, they have liter- 

 ally dropped from the clouds. 



But if, for many and good reasons, we set aside, as a 

 misconception of the facts, the impression still retained by 

 many, that swallows hibernate in the mud, at the bottoms 

 of lakes and rivers, what have we to say of the more rea- 

 sonable proposition that they hibernate, as do many ani- 

 mals, in underground retreats, in clefts of the rocks and 

 even in hollow trees ? Now, the one simple way to decide 

 this matter is, to find them hibernating, as they are said 

 to do. 



So far as my own experience extends, I have never 

 found a swallow hibernating in any position, nor do I ever 

 expect to ; and, furthermore, I believe nine tenths of all 

 the accounts that are published of the discovery of the hi- 

 bernating swallows could be readily explained as some- 

 thing very different, if all the facts of the case could be 

 ascertained. But when we come to study very closely the 

 habits of a familiar bird, that to all but ornithologists is a 

 veritable swallow, our common swift or "chimney-swal- 

 low," then I am fairly staggered, and find myself saying 

 beneath my breath, " After all - - ! " 



In conclusion, then, it behooves me to consider this 

 common chimney-swallow very carefully and candidly, 

 and determine how far certain occurrences that I have 

 witessed are indicative of hibernation. 



In a large unused chimney of an old house built in 

 1708, standing near my home, thousands of chimney- 

 swallows annually congregate, arriving in April or 

 appearing then and departing, well! I am not certain 

 when. 



Now, this chimney has an internal surface of about four 

 hundred and twenty-five square feet, and, allowing one 

 square foot to each nest, will accommodate so many pairs 



