OBSER VA TIONS ON BIRDS. 327 



Tlio late severe weather considered, it is not very prob- 

 able 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 latebrse, where they have spent the 

 uncomfortable foodless months in a torpid state, and the 

 profoundest of slumbers. 



There is a large pond at Wishhanger, which induces 

 these sand-martins to frequent that district. For I have 

 ever remarked that they haunt near great waters, either 

 rivers or lakes. — White. 



Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this 

 very ingenious naturalist savours 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 these circumstances, 

 which induced Mr. White to suppose that some of these 

 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 forwards 

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

 building; nay, I once saw on the 8th 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 1 

 Surely it will not be asserted 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 



