TOUPIDITY. 73 



torpid state in their nests, could scarcely have originated in 

 any other circumstance than the occurrence of the fact. 



But besides the example of the torpidity of the swal- 

 low, Bewick relates an instance of the same condition being 

 observed in the cuckoo. " A few years ago, a young cuc- 

 koo was found in the thickest part of a close whin-bush. 

 When taken up, it presently discovered signs of life, but 

 was quite destitute of feathers. Being kept Avarm, and 

 carefully fed, it grew and recovered its coat of feathers. 

 In the spring followng it made its escape, and in flying 

 across the river Tyne it gave its visual call." 



There is an equally well authenticated example of torpidi- 

 ty in birds recorded by Mr Neill, as having been observed 

 in the case of the Land- rail, or Corncrake, as it is called in 

 Scotland. " I made," says he, " frequent inquiry, whether 

 corncrakes have been seen to migrate from Orkney, but 

 could not learn that such a circumstance had been observed. 

 It is the opinion of the inhabitants, indeed, that they are 

 not able to undertake a flight across the sea. Mr Yors- 

 ton, a farmer at Aikerness, further related a curious fact, 

 rather leading to the conclusion that they do not migrate. 

 In the course of demolishing a hill-dike, (/. c. a mud-wall), 

 at Aikerness, about midwinter, a corticrake was found in 

 the midst of the wall. It was apparently lifeness ; but, 

 being fresh to the feel and smell, Mr Yorston thought of 

 placing it in a warm situation, to see if it would revive. In 

 a short time it began to move, and in a few hours it was 

 able to walk about. It lived for two days in the kitchen, 

 but would not eat any kind of food. It then died, and 

 became putrid. I do not assert that this solitary instance 

 ought to be regarded in any other light than as an excep- 

 tion to the general rule of migration, till further observa- 

 tion have determined the point *." 



• ■' Tour through Orkney and Shetland," p. 30t. 



