Migration of Swalloxvs* 345 



MIGRATION OF SWALLOWS. A SWALLOW TREE. 



If ever the swallow^ should become a bird, whose 

 appearance in the spring, and departure in the autumn, 

 would mark the seasons, as they regard agricultural 

 operations ; the litigated point of hybernation here, 

 would be of some importance. Yet their disappear- 

 ance in the autumn might be noted, with nearly as 

 much usefulness, even if they actually hybernated with 

 us, and retired from view ; as the departure of birds 

 indisputably migratory. This is vexata questio ; and I 

 do not engage in it, as a controversialist. The hank 

 swalloxv, and chimney bird, have been, by the advo- 

 cates of lujbernation, the most relied on, for the facts 

 adduced in support of that side of the question ; whe- 

 ther they contend for their submersion, or their re- 

 tirement into holes, trees, or other places, in which 

 they have been alleged to pass away the period of sus- 

 pended animation. I have, in the course of my life, met 

 with instances of torpid bank swallows, taken out of ca- 

 vities in stone quarries, both in winter and early spring ; 

 which leave an impression on me, that, by nature they 

 have a capacity to become sleepers, whhout injury, 

 I have seen them, apparently inanimate, when brought 

 into a warm room, — revive and become agile, and per- 

 fectly capable of performing all their functions. I have 

 heard of more than I have seen, of such instances. But 

 I never saw one, which had hybernated in a state of 

 submersion under water. Yet some fiicts on this point, 

 are confidently alleged. 



I had, for a long time, settled the fact, in my own 

 mind, that some species of the swallow, actually hy- 

 bernated here. But, on more mature deliberation, and 



VOL. III. XX 



