BIRDS. 141 



wanting grave and respectable authorities in favour of the 

 opinion, that they plunge to the bottom of ponds, and 

 the beds of rivers, where they lie involved in mud till they 

 feel the genial influence of spring. 



In what manner swallows dispose of themselves at their 

 period of migration is certainly undecided, and perhaps 

 will long remain so ; but it may be observed, that, as these 

 birds subsist on insects, it is impossible they should con- 

 tinue in this climate during winter, and still retain 

 their vital powers. Several animals are known to become 

 torpid when the cold sets in, and to remain in that con- 

 dition till the return of spring. From analogy, then, why 

 may not swallows be so affected? But who has dis- 

 covered their general retreats ? We witness their collec- 

 tion into immense flocks ; but have no satisfactory proof, 

 either that they were ever seen taking their flight from 

 our coasts, hiding in our caverns, or plunging in our 

 streams. * 



Of the docility of birds we have numberless instances. 

 A canary-bird has been taught to pick up the letters of 

 the alphabet, and to arrange them at the word of com- 

 mand, so as to spell the name of any person in company ; 

 while the notices given on this occasion by the teacher, 

 and obeyed by his pupil, were such as to elude the dis- 

 cernment of every spectator. The aptitude to receive 

 instruction which is displayed by the hawk, the parrot, 

 the magpie, the bull-finch, and various other birds, needs 

 only mention to be allowed and admired. 



Linnaeus divides birds into six orders : I. ACCIPITRES, 

 or the rapacious kind ; II. PIC;E, or the pye-kind ; III. AN- 

 SERES, or the duck kind ; IV. GRALL^E, or the crane kind; 



* Having for many years been collecting information respecting the 

 Swallow-tribes, which perhaps may some time be given to the public, 

 on this occasion I shall only observe, that the impression on my mind 

 is, they lie torpid during the brumal season. The reasons on which 

 this opinion is founded, would lead me too far to explain in a work of 

 this nature. 



