360 OBSERVATIONS 



walls, in a manner not practised by them at any 

 other time of their remaining with us. 



The swallows seem to delight more in holding 

 their assemblies on trees. 



November 3, 1789. Two swallows were seen 

 this morning at Newton Vicarage House, hovering 

 and settling on the roofs and out-buildings. None 

 have been observed at Selborne since October 11. 

 It is very remarkable, that after the hirundines have 

 disappeared for some weeks, a few are occasionally 

 seen again : sometimes, in the first week in Novem- 

 ber, and that only for one day. Do they not with- 

 draw and slumber in some hiding-place during the 

 interval ? for we cannot suppose they had migrated 

 to warmer climes, and so returned again for one day. 

 Is it not more probable that they are awakened from 

 sleep, and, like the bats, are come forth to collect a 

 little food * ? Bats appear at all seasons through the 



* Concerning swallows, the reader will see, that Mr. White 

 appears to incline more and more in favour of their torpidity, 

 and against their migration. Mr. D. Barrington is still more 

 positive on the same side of the question. See his Miscellanies, 

 p. 225. The ancients generally mention this bird as wintering 

 in Africa. See Anacreon, Xy. ed. Brunk. p. 38. The Rhodians 

 had a festival called %eXt^6vi, when the hoys brought about 

 young swallows : the song which they sang may be seen in the 

 works of Meursius, v. iii. p. 974. fol. 



"OjOa dyovcra, Ka\ KO\OVQ 'I&VICLVTOVQ 

 'ETTI yaarspa Xtvica K' airi vatra peXaiva. 



" He comes ! He comes ! who loves to bear 

 Soft sunny hours, and seasons fair; 

 The swallow hither comes to rest 

 His sable wing, and snowy breast." 



And, alluding to this custom, Avienus, (who may be consi- 

 dered only as a very bad translator of an excellent poem, the 

 Periegesis of Dionysius,) thus says, v. 705, 



