BIRDS. 455 



The late severe weather considered, it is not very 

 probable that these birds should have migrated so early 

 from a tropical region, through all these cutting winds 

 and pinching frosts: but it is easy to suppose that they 

 may, like bats and flies, have been awakened by the 

 influence of the sun, amidst their secret latebrce, where 

 they have spent the uncomfortable foodless months in 

 a torpid state, and the profoundest of slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wish-hanger, which induces 

 these sand martins to frequent that district. For I 

 have ever remarked that they haunt near great waters, 

 either rivers or lakes 17 . 



SWALLOWS, CONGREGATING AND DISAPPEAR- 

 ANCE OF. 



DURING the severe winds that often prevail late in 

 the spring, it is not easy to say how the Hirundines 



17 Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this very inge- 

 nious naturalist favours the opinion that part at least of the swallow tribe 

 pass their winter in a torpid state in the same manner as bats and flies, 

 and revive again on the approach of spring. 



I have frequently taken notice of all those circumstances which in- 

 duced Mr. White to suppose that some of the Hirundines lie torpid during 

 winter. I have seen, so late as November, on a finer day than usual at 

 that season of the year, two or three swallows flying backwards and for- 

 wards under a warm hedge, or on the sunny side of some old building; 

 nay, I once saw on the 8th of December two martins flying about very 

 briskly, the weather being mild. I had not seen any considerable number 

 either of swallows or martins for a considerable time before ; from whence 

 then could these few birds come, if not from some hole or cavern where 

 they had laid themselves up for the winter ? Surely it will not be as- 

 serted that these birds migrate back again from some distant tropical 

 region, merely on the appearance of a fine day or two at this late season 

 of the year. Again, very early in the spring, and sometimes immediately 

 after very cold severe weather, on its growing a little warmer, a few of 

 these birds suddenly make their appearance, long before the generality 

 of them are seen. These appearances certainly favour the opinion of 

 their passing the winter in a torpid state, but do not absolutely prove the 

 fact; for who ever saw them reviving of their own accord from their 

 torpid state, without being first brought to the fire, and as it were forced 

 into life again ; soon after which revivification they constantly die. 

 MARKWICK. 



