September 



in hiding-places in a state of torpidity. For the 

 latter he had definite examples in the mode of 

 hibernation of bats, hedgehogs, and the like ; and 

 it was in a spirit of true scientific moderation that 

 he sought to apply them in the case of the swallow 

 tribe, thereby avoiding the extremes of hibernation 

 under water on the one hand, and of the scarcely less 

 wonderful migration on the other. He admits, 

 however, at times, that he is of opinion that the 

 majority of the birds migrate, and in doing so goes 

 as far as evidence then available warranted. 



I remember, early in the " eighties," coming upon 

 a heap of dead swallows on the ground, apparently 

 killed by a sudden spring frost. I have also found 

 young swallows drowned on the day of their first 

 flight, and can only imagine that, seeing the clear 

 reflection of the sky in the pool, they had flown into 

 it with the intention of continuing their flight. Had 

 similar occurrences come under White's personal 

 notice, I cannot but think that he would wholly have 

 disregarded the theory of hibernating under water, 

 and have been led to reflect with growing doubt 

 upon the probability of these birds having local 

 hiding-places, whither they might retreat at short 

 notice from the inclemency of a capricious spring. 



I have taken swallows from beneath as they 

 perched at the edge of the awning covering the after- 

 deck of a steamer which left England on the 9th of 

 November, and which was at that time south of 

 Finisterre, proceeding to Vigo, en route for Brazil. 



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