'The Natural History of Selborne 435 



before some nest-holes in a sand-hill, where these birds 

 usually nestle. 



The incident confirms my suspicions, that this species of 

 hirundo is to be seen first of any ; and gives great reason to 

 suppose that they do not leave their wild haunts at all, but 

 are secreted amidst the clefts and caverns of those abrupt 

 cliffs, where they usually spend their summers. 



The late severe weather considered, it is not very probable 

 that 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 latebrse, where they have spent the uncomfortable 

 foodless months in a torpid state and the profoundest of 

 slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wishhanger, which induces these 

 sand-martins to frequent that district. For I have ever re- 

 marked that they haunt near great waters, either rivers or 

 lakes. WHITE. 



Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this very 

 ingenious naturalist savours 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 induces Mr. White to suppose that some of these 

 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 build- 

 ing : 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 considerable time 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 



