UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 163 



common species, undoubtedly lately come from 

 Europe, followed us for some time without 

 alighting on the vessel, but soon directed its flight 

 towards the African coast, where it was sure of 

 finding the insects on which it feeds. We were 

 in 28 N. lat., and 22 W. long." Adanson also 

 asserts that he witnessed the arrival on the coast 

 of Senegal, on the 6th of October, in the evening, 

 of real European swallows ; and he ascertained 

 that they are never seen there but in autumn 

 and winter. 



My aunt has often observed them collected in 

 large companies on trees, and on the roofs of 

 houses, previous to their flight in September ; and 

 the direction they take at that season is to the 

 southward. 



My uncle then told us, that his old and highly 

 respected friend Dr. Jenner, who, you know, lived 

 just on the other side of the Severn, used to re- 

 mark, that if swallows really did creep into holes 

 and crevices to hibernate, they would surely ap- 

 pear in a languid state when they came out again 

 in the same way that all those quadrupeds who 

 pass the winter in a state of torpor, are very much 

 emaciated when they revive. The hedgehog, 

 for instance, at the approach of winter, retires to 

 its nest covered with fat, which is entirely absorbed 

 when it awakens on the return of spring; whereas 

 when the swallows appear in April, they are plump 

 and strong upon the wing. 



