OBSEBYATTONS ON BIEDS. 325 



tliat these birds should have migrated so early from a tropical 

 region, through all these cutting winds and pinching frosts : 

 but it is easy to suppose that they may, like bats and flies, 

 have been awakened by the influence of the sun amidst their 

 secret latebrce, wher x e 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 induces 

 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 circumstances, 

 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 swallows 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 themselves up for the winter ? Surely 

 it will not be asserted 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 immediately after 

 very cold, severe weather, on its growing a little warmer, a 

 few of these birds suddenly make their appearance, long 

 before the generality of them are seen. These appearances 

 certainly favour the opinion of their passing the winter in a 

 torpid state, but do not absolutely prove the fact ; for who 

 ever saw them reviving of their own accord from their torpid 

 state, without being first brought to the fire, and, as it were, 

 forced into life again ; soon after which revivification, they 

 constantly die. MABKWICK. 



