44 MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 



tic birds had arrived. I have remarked, that not 

 only in these countries, but generally throughout 

 Europe, those birds of passage come from the west 

 and north-west ; whilst it is also true that the bit- 

 tern and the stork, of which there is a species here 

 quite white, as also cranes and other land-birds, 

 come about the same time from the south. The 

 common and ash-coloured crow appeared about the 

 middle of March, and consequently were the first 

 visitors of that class : the wood-pigeon, the starling, 

 and the alpine lark appeared only towards the end 

 of the month ; they come in flocks, and are as com- 

 mon as sparrows Among the latest visitants was 

 the beautiful hoopoe, and it too was in great num- 

 bers. Insects appeared at the same time as the 

 flowers. Notwithstanding the extraordinary heat, 

 and the great number of insects, swallows did not 

 arrive before the 16th of April, though they pre- 

 ceded the wasp. This is a proof that swallows are 

 really birds of passage ; because, if not, they should 

 have arrived at least at the same time with the 

 insects. The fable of swallows hybemating at the 

 bottom of the streams, is unknown in Russia; 

 although there is not a country in the world where 

 fishing is prosecuted with greater ardour, and where 

 the net is so much employed, both in winter and 

 spring."— T. i. 224—227. 



One other specimen we shall supply. " It would 

 be difficult to find a more delightful locality than 

 the neighbourhood of Samara. It is rich in superb 

 forests of birch and aspensj occasionally mixed with 



