On ike lidrcat of Sicallows in Winter. 07 



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state, I imputed to their being exposed to the severity of the 

 weather, during the winter, by the tree's bursting open when 

 it fell. They were of the species which we call chimney 



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swallows. Their colour is much darker than that of the barn 

 swallow. The large feathers in the tail terminate in strong 

 sharp points, by which they support themselves along the in- 

 side of chimneys, whilst they are building their nests. They 

 fold their tail feathers in a direction perpendicular to 

 their bodies, which is contrary to that of the barn swallows. 

 Large numbers of these swallows annually build in the chim- 

 neys of my house ; and frequently descend down into the 

 rooms, by which means they have been very familiar to me. 

 I can therefore, positively declare, that those I found in the 

 hollow chesnut, were of the same species. This chesnut was 

 about forty miles west of that part of Hudson's river, which 

 is about ninety miles distance from New-York on a north 



line ; or was probably between the latitudes of 41° 30' 

 and 42° north. 



The island in the Neversink Creek, where Mr. Baker 

 found a large number of swallows, in the beginning of 

 March, 1789, in a hollow beech tree, which were mention- 

 ed in a, late New- York paper, lies about ten miles from 

 the place, where I found the swallows in the chesnut. I am 

 well acquainted with Mr. Baker ] and conceive him to be 

 a man of probity; but it is possible he might be mistaken 

 in the species of swallows. 



There are some curious flicts in the natural history of the 

 bear, which perhaps, you have not met with. About the 



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beginning 



