Zhe TKHarbler 37 



all birds) it is impossible for them to live beyond a day or two in a torpid 

 state. In this declaration I am supported by the dissections of the celebrat- 

 ed John Hunter. I have seen the American Chimney Swallow, as well as 

 the Rail, placed under the water to try the experiment whether they could 

 exist in that element, and they have invariably been drowned in a few min- 

 utes, and no warmth or electricity could afterwards revive them. The cir- 

 cumstance of the Swallows drinking from brooks and rivers while they are 

 on the wing, and of picking up flies and insects whilst skimming the surface 

 of the water, has no doubt given rise to the deception in persons supposing 

 they had seen them going under the water in winter retreat. When birds of 

 this species have been found in nearly a dormant state, it was either in the 

 autumn or early in the spring, generally the latter, these are the seasons of 

 their migration. At night they sought these retreats as usual to sleep; here 

 they were overtaken by a cold change in the atmosphere, and here they 

 would have died in a very short time if the weather had not become milder. 

 These birds have never been found in this situation in winter, besides our 

 senses can satisfy us where the Swallows spend their winters. Of the six 

 species of Swallow that inhabit the United States all of them but the Cliff 

 Swallow {Hirundo fiilvd), which has but recently made its appearance in the 

 country, are seen in thousands performing their annual migrations along 

 the Emizon and even the very streets of our city. The green Swallow 

 {Hirundo bi color) is found in Florida during the coldest weather of that 

 country, and was during the last winter, 1832, seen every day, with the ex- 

 ception of about two weeks, in considerable numbers in the neighborhood 

 of Charleston. The Barn Swallow and Purple Martin (H. purpurea) leave 

 us earlier and return later. The Chimney Swallow follows last in the train 

 on its return from the South, as it is the first to leave us in autumn. Thus 

 we perceive that there is nothing mysterious, nothing unnatural in the mi- 

 grations of the Swallow. 



The manner in which birds perform their migrations is also deserving 

 of notice. At the approach of autumn, when the cold is beginning to drive 

 the insects to their winter retreats, when the earth begins everywhere to 

 present the image of desolation and death, when the animals are preparing 

 for themselves a shelter from the cold; it is then, and sometimes a few weeks 

 earlier (as if in anticipation of this season) that birds assemble frequently in 

 troops to set out on their annual aerial voyage to Southern climes. The 

 young in most species instinctively herd together, as if disdaining to inquire 

 the path of migration from the old. Some, taught from the instinct of na- 

 ture which way to bend their course, depart singly and make their long and 

 weary journey alone. Others go in straggling flocks. Sometimes you see 

 the air almost darkened with the Swallows and Nighthawks {Caprunalgus 

 Virgi?iiacus), other species crowd into close columns during their flight. This 



