OREITHOLOGY. 85 



ty arrive to. " This I do suggest, (says this 

 great phiXosopher) because it is as hard for me to 

 persuade myself that they come from any other 

 part of the earth, as it is to persuade another that 

 they come from the moon, and therefore if the 

 moon will not be allowed, some other place must 

 be found out for them." 



This lunar doctrine is an excellent satire, altho' 

 not intended, on the hypothesis of submersion — 

 both are equally unfounded and equally ridicu- 

 lous. The swallow is the swiftest bird that flies 

 — a mile a minute is a reasonable calculation. — 

 In two days your swallows can reach Africa, but 

 I do not believe that they extend their tour be- 

 yond Spanish America, and the opposite islands. 



Have you ever seen the beautiful ode of Ana^ 

 creon on the swallow "? Will you accept of it in 

 translation ? 



" Once in each revolving year, 

 Gentle bird we find thee here. 

 When nature wears her summer vest. 

 Thou com'st to weave thy simple nest ^ 

 But when the chilling- winter lowers, 

 Again thou seek'st the genial bowers 

 Of Memphis, or the shores of Nile, 

 Where constant hours of verdure smile." 



Edwards has given a delineation of the Canada 

 goose at large. Catesby has figured the head 



E 2 



