348 Migration of Swallows > 



the heart of the tree. A person went into the tree 

 with a shovel, and threw out, to a considerable depth, 

 the contents; which were intermixed with white worms, 

 or maggots, and feathers of swallows, and of the eagle, 

 and some other birds ; probably birds of prey, in quest 

 of their victims. Every mark of swallows having fre- 

 quented the tree, in great numbers, was evident. But 

 not a bird, — dead or alive, — was seen. The day of 

 examination was the 16th of the present month ; — suf- 

 ficiently late in the season : and we were favoured with 

 fine weather, for our reconnoissance. The opening we 

 had made was closed ; to prevent the birds from aban- 

 doning their v/onied asylum, on their return, next sea- 

 son. So that this long credited testimony of hyberna- 

 tion, entirely failed. 



If I have been too minute, I have been operated on 

 by a desire to show, that every necessary measure was 

 taken, to ascertain the truth, or fallacy, of a firm be- 

 lief, which had been entertained for more than forty 

 years, that this tree would furnish an irrefragable proof, 

 in support of the doctrine of hybernation here, of this 

 species of the swallow. 



The tree must be five or six feet in diameter ; and 

 is in tolerable vigour. The thickness of the alburnum^ 

 or sapwood, (for there is little else,) does not exceed 

 six or seven inches. Yet it proves the doctrine men- 

 tioned by Darwin, that the life of the tree is in the 

 sapwood ; and the heart, being only a deposit from it, 

 has little to do with its vigour, or growth. We saw 

 here, that the heart was almost entirely gone. The in- 

 terior was clear of all obstruction, up to the forks of 

 the tree ; and was nicely polished by the wings of the 



