THE ANIMAL KINGDOM: 313 



torpid in the depths of some cave, just as the bats do. One 

 of the most reliable of these men, Larrey the surgeon, men- 

 tions having discovered in the neighborhood of Maurienne a 

 grotto, the roof of which was lined with a mass of swallows, 

 which kept themselves attached to it like a swarm of bees. 



But the experiments of Spallanzani have destroyed all 

 these false creeds. The learned abbe found that the swal- 

 lows which he tried to throw into a state of hibernation in 

 an ice-house did not become torpid, but died. 



Adanson has taught us that the swallows betake them- 

 selves to the Senegal during the cold season. Those which 

 are scattered through our country unite together at autumn 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean, and when an irresist- 

 ible desire impels them to depart cross the sea in numerous 

 troops. Thus, then, in summer the swallow builds its nest 

 under the sumptuous cornices of our palaces, and in winter 

 inhabits the huts of Senegambia. 1 



All do not attain the goal of their pilgrimage. The waves 

 engulf those who have reckoned too much upon their 

 strength, unless some propitious rock or ship happen to be 



1 Mr. Charles Buxton, who has paid great attention to the acclimatization of 

 birds, and who appears to have succeeded wonderfully with his experiments at 

 Northrepps Hall, in the woods round which live, winter and summer, African par- 

 rots, Bengal paroquets, and Philippine Island lories, etc., lately read a paper on 

 this subject at a meeting of the British Association, in which he stated his reasons 

 for believing that the migration of birds " depends altogether on food, and not 

 the fear of cold. Even the delicate little long-tailed titmouse and still more deli- 

 cate little golden-crested wren remain with us the whole winter without appearing 

 to suffer." 



[This power of resisting cold Mr. Buxton attributes to the impermeable cover- 

 ing of down below the feather of birds, and possibly to their having a greater sup- 

 ply of heat than other animals. TR.] 



