@n Hybernation, 83 



where they remain from October to February. They theu 

 roost in the marshes, from whence in the morning they rise 

 in a spiral form to a great height and disperse to seek their 

 food ; when rising in this manner, he says, they resemble 

 large columns of smoke.* 



A Mr. Pearson of London, some years since took great 

 pains to ascertain if the swallow became torpid. For this 

 purpose he confined some of them in a cage, where they 

 remained in a perfectly healthy state for three or four 

 years, when they died for want of attention during his ill- 

 ness. 



It has been asserted, and frequently, believed that the 

 rail or sora (Rallus Carolinus) also assumes a state of tor- 

 pidity during winter. Although I cannot urge the rapidity 

 of the flight of this bird, as a reason for its not becoming 

 torpid, 1 can, with truth, say I believe its wings are suffi- 

 ciently strong to carry it beyond the reach of frost. If it 

 remained here during the winter, is it not likely it would 

 have been discerned ? Yet we have not a single well au- 

 thenticated relation of this. A farmer of Maryland, (Mr. 

 Wilson tells us,) asserted that they changed into frogs, that 

 he found one in the very act of its transformation, and that 

 he showed it to one of his labourers ; but it does not ap- 

 pear he ever satisfied any other person as to ihis fact. 



On reviewing the subject I think we may safely conclude 

 that a torpid swallow never yet has had an existence. 



* My friend Mr. Ord informs me he has seen the swallow in the south ot 

 France in December, and was assured Ihey remain there all the winter. It 

 is strange this fact should not have beea observed by the naturalists of 

 Europe^ 



