144 r April 1749.' 



Swallows made their nefts, before the* 

 Europeans fettled and built houfes here; 

 for it is well known that the huts of the 

 Indians could not ferve the purpofe of the 

 Swallows-* A very creditable lady and her 

 children told me the following ftory, affur- 

 ing me that they were eye-witnefles to it : 

 A couple of Swallows built their neft in the 

 ftable belonging to the lady ; the female 



Swallow 



them again in fpring. The queflion therefore I believe 

 ought for the future to be thus ftated : The fvvallows in 

 Spain y Itafy, France, and perhaps fome from England^ re- 

 move to warmer climates ; fome Englijb ones, and fome 

 in Germany and other mild countries, retire into clefts and 

 Boles in rocks, and remain there in a torpid flate. In the 

 colder northern countries the Swallows immerfe in the 

 fea, in lakes, and rivers, and remain in a torpid ftate, un- 

 der ice, during winter. There are flil] fome objections to 

 this latter aflertion, which we muft remove. It isfaid, Why 

 do not rapacious fi(h, and aquatic quadrupeds and birds, de- 

 vour thefe Swallows ? The anfwer is obvious. Swallows 

 chufe only fuch places in the water for their winter retreat, 

 as are near reeds and rumes ; fo that finking down there 

 between them and their roots, they are by them fecured 

 againft the rapacioufnefs of their enemies. But others 

 object, Why are not thefe birds caught in fuch waters as are 

 continually harraffed by nets ? I believe the fame anfwer 

 which has been made to the firft objection, will ferve for 

 this likewife. Fifhermen tike care to keep off with theii* 

 nets from places filled with reeds and rufhes, for fear of 

 entangling and tearing their nets; and thus the fituation 

 of Swallows under water, is the reafon that they are feldom 

 difturbed in their filent winter-retreats. What confirms 

 this opinion ftill more is, that Swallows were never caught 

 in Prujffia 9 according to the above-mentioned affidavits, 



but 



