358 OBSERVATIONS 



where they have spent the uncomfortable foodless 

 months in a torpid state, and the profoundest of 

 slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wish- Hanger, which in- 

 duces these sand-martins to frequent that district. 

 For I have ever remarked that they haunt near great 

 waters, either rivers or lakes. WHITE. 



Here, and in many other passages of his writings, 

 this very ingenious naturalist favours the opinion 

 that part, at least, of the swallow tribe pass their 

 winter in a torpid state, in the same manner as 

 bats and flies, and revive again on the approach of 

 spring. 



I have frequently taken notice of all these circum- 

 stances, which induced Mr. White to suppose that 

 some of the hirundines lie torpid during winter. I 

 have seen, so late as November, on a finer day than 

 usual at that season of the year, two or three swal- 

 lows flying backwards and forwards under a warm 

 hedge, or on the sunny side of some old building ; 

 nay, I once saw, on the 8th of December, two martins 

 flying about very briskly, the weather being mild. 

 I had not seen any considerable number, either of 

 swallows or martins, for a good while before : from 

 whence, then, could these few birds come, if not 

 from some hole or cavern where they had laid them- 

 selves up for the winter ? Surely it will not be as- 

 serted that these birds migrate back again, from some 

 distant tropical region, merely on the appearance of 

 a fine day or two at this late season of the year. 

 Again, very early in the spring, and sometimes im- 

 mediately after very cold, severe weather, on its 

 growing a little warmer, a few of these birds sud- 

 denly make their appearance, long before the gene- 

 rality of them are seen. These appearances certainly 

 favour the opinion of their passing the winter in a 



