368 Hybernation. 



excavation on the surface, in which he placed himself in a circular 

 form, a position the most accommodating to his condition. Many- 

 times during the winter. Col. W., to gratify the curiosity of his visit- 

 ing friends, directed the woodchuck to be brought up. The torpid 

 animal, after lying fifteen or twenty minutes on the carpet, before a 

 cheering fire in the keeping room, would begin to yawn, then stretch 

 out one limb after another, open his eyes, slowly raise himself on 

 his feet, and walk rather awkwardly from the immediate influence 

 of the fire, appearing uneasy till returned to his bed in the cellar, 

 uniformly refusing nourishment, of any kind, during the time of his 

 hybernation. 



Hybernation of the Swallow, [Hirundo.) 



Respecting the question so long agitated, and with conflicting opin- 

 ions of ornithologists, whither the common swallow (Hirundo Ameri- 

 cana, W.,) hybernates in our country by immersion in water and mud, 

 or migrates to more southern latitudes, Mr. Lea expresses his opin- 

 ion, decidedly, in the following sentence, page 83, " On reviewing the 

 subject, I think we may safely conclude, that a torpid swallow 

 never yet has had an existence." In support of this opinion he ad- 

 duces, among other things, the following authorities. " Capt. Hen- 

 derson, of the British array, relates that he saw myriads in Honduras 

 where they remain from October to February," and in a note at the 

 bottom of p. 83, " My friend, Mr. Ord infor^is me, he has seen the 

 swallow in the south of France in December, and was assured they 

 remain there all the winter. It is strange this fact should not have 

 been observed by the naturalists of Europe." 



To this it might be replied, that in the latitude of Honduras there 

 could be no necessity for hybernation either by immersion or migra- 

 tion ; for in that warm climate, there would be a constant supply of 

 food by insects which continue, through the winter months, in an ac- 

 tive state. Respecting the statement of Mr. Ord, the correctness of 

 which I feel no disposition to question, I will only say, that, I fully 

 agree with Mr. Lea, " it is strange this fact should not have been ob- 

 served by the naturalists of Europe." 



I have now only to add, that in the year 1828, during the months 

 of July, August and September, I saw many of the same species of 

 the swallow in Greece, and from the 4th to the 11th of October at 

 Smyrna and Clazomenae, and on the 21st about the Goletta, at Car- 

 thage, and the bay oi Tunis, but at Fort Mahon, from the 23rd of 



