THE NIGHT-SWALLOW. 75 



m<y brook, or fuch as has been caft up by worms, well tempered with 

 the bjll, moiftened with water for better adhefion, and farther kept 

 firm by long grafs and fibres ; within it is lined with goofe feathers. 



On the coafts of China and Coromandel, fays Willcughby, are ** a fort 

 of partv- coloured birds, of the fhape of fwallows ; thefe at their breeding- 

 time come (fome out of the country) to the rocks, and from the foam 

 or froth of the fea-water dafbing againft the rocks, gather a certain gluti- 

 nous matter (the fpawn of fifties), of which they build their ncfts ; x/nefQ 

 the Chinefe pluck from their ftations, and bring in great numbers to fell ; 

 they are efteemed great delicacies when diffblved in chicken or mutton 

 brorh, far before oyftcrs, mufhrooms, or other dainty or liquorifti mor- 

 kls." This kind of fperm of fifties often floats on the fea for leagues 

 " together, in thofe climates, 



Ufualiy lays from five to fix eggs, white, fpcckled with red ; fomc- 

 times breeds twice a year. The fwallow fupplies her broods very plenti- 

 fully, the firft particularly ; always keeps her neft clean. 



At the latter end of September, or in Oflober, they leave us ; a few 



days previous to their departure, vaft flocks afiemble on houfe tops, as if 



deliberating on their fatiguing journey, which is thought to be ufualiy to 



Senegal, and along the Morocco fliore : they fet out at night, to avoid 



birds of prey ; always choofe a favourable wind ; the latter weakly broods, 



v.hich are not yet in a condition to fet out, delay, and are fometimes 



too feeble to venture j thefe wretched little families, being compelled to 



itay, perifli in cold weather j while the tender parents fhare the fate of 



tiieir offspring, and die with their new-fledged brood. They are thought 



to perform their fatiguing journey in about feven days ; when interrupted 



by contrary winds, in their courfe far off at fea, they alight on whatever 



fnip they find in their pafl'age, fpent with famine and fatigue, yet fl:ill 



they boldly venture, when refrefhed by a few hours reft, to* renew their 



tiight, and continue their courfe. They do not breed in Senegal, nor 



ever bring' with them into Europe young of the fame year. 



Yet it remains doubtful whether all fwallows migrate, or whether 

 there may not be fome fpecies, that, though externally alike, is fo inter- 

 nally diftinft as to be very differently affefled by the approach of winter. 

 Many witnefles a/Hrm, that fwallows hide in holes under ground, or in 

 rocks or crevices, or in caverns in mountains ; fome inform us that they 

 have feen them taken out of the water, and even from under the ice, in 

 bunches. Reaumur, who particularly interefted himfelf in this inquiry, 

 received fcveral fuch accounts. 6 That 



