PEREGRINE FALCON. 307 



pond* . His attention was first drawn by the twittering 

 of these birds, which sat motionless in a row on the 

 bough, with their heads all one way, and, by their 

 weight pressing down the twig, so that it nearly 

 touched the water. In this situation, he watched 

 them till he could see no longer. Repeated accounts 

 of this sort, spring and fall, induce us greatly to 

 suspect, that house -swallows have some strong at- 

 tachmment to water, independent of the matter of 

 food; and, though they may not retire into that 

 element, yet they may conceal themselves in the 

 banks of pools and rivers during the uncomfortable 

 months of winter. 



One of the keepers of Wolmer Forest sent me a 

 peregrine falcon, which he shot on the verge of that 

 district, as it was devouring a wood-pigeon. The 

 falco peregrinus, or haggard falcon, is a noble species 

 of hawk, seldom seen in the southern counties. In 

 winter 1767, one was killed in the neighbouring 

 parish of Faringdon, and sent by me to Mr. Pennant 

 into North Walesf. Since that time, I have met 

 with none till now. The specimen mentioned above 

 was in fine preservation, and not injured by the shot : 

 it measured forty-two inches from wing to wing, and 

 twenty -one from beak to tail, and weighed two 

 pounds and a half standing weight. This species is 



* Spallanzani says, very decidedly, that swallows retire under 

 water at the time of their disappearance from this country ; but 

 acknowledges that he had never himself observed it, though his 

 belief of the fact seemed certain. He had performed a variety 

 of experiments to resolve the question, if cold would have the 

 effect of producing torpidity, and confined swallows in different 

 ways under snow and ice, and in an ice-house. The result, 

 however, was always death, when the temperature and period of 

 immersion were prolonged beyond a certain period ; and the con- 

 clusion he draws is, that, at least, our species of hirundinidce do 

 not become torpid. W. J. 



f See Letters X. and XI. to Thomas Pennant, Esq. 

 x 2 



