New Jerfey, Raccoon. 145 



Swallow fat upon the neft, laid eggs in it, 

 and was about to brood them ; fome days 

 after, the people faw the female ftill fitting 

 on the eggs : but the male flying about the 

 neft and fometimes fettling on a nail, was 

 heard to utter a very plaintive note, which 

 betrayed his uneafinefs : on a nearer exa- 

 mination the female was found dead in the 

 neft, and the people flung her away. The 



but with thofe parts of the net which pafTed near to the 

 reeds and rufhes ; and fometimes the Swallows were yet 

 fattened with their feet to a reed, when they were drawn 

 up by the net. As to the argument taken from their 

 being fo long under water without corruption, I believe, 

 there is a real difference between animals fuffocated in 

 water, and animals being torpid therein. We have ex- 

 amples of things being a long time under water ; to which 

 we may add the intenfe cold of thefe northern regions, 

 which preferves them. Who would have thought it, that 

 fnails and polypes may be difFe&ed, and could reproduce 

 the parts fevered from their body, if it was not a fact ? 

 Natural hiftory ought to be ftudied as a collection of fatts ; 

 not as the hiftory of our guefTes or opinions. Nature 

 varies in an infinite manner ; and Providence has diversi- 

 fied theinftinft of animals, and their ceconomy, and adapt- 

 ed it to the various feafohs and climates. This long di- 

 greffion I thought necefTary and excufable ; and the more 

 fo, as the ingenious great friends to the caufe of Natural 

 Hiftory, the late Mr. Collin/on, and Mr. Pennant, have both 

 aiTerted the impoffibility and improbability of this im- 

 mersion. I revere the memory and the aflaes cf the one, 

 and think the friendfhip of the other an honour to me : 

 but am allured, that both prefer truth to their private 

 opinion ; and can bear a modeft opposition, when it is 

 propofed with candour, with a view to promote truth, 

 and with fentiments of refpect and gratitude, as it is done 

 by me, in the prefent cafe. F. 



Vol. II. K male 



