NOTE ON THE 



SUPPOSED HIBEENATION OF SWALLOWS. 



On this subject we have said little or nothing in this work, as the study is for the 

 curious. The best summary of what has been written on the supposed liibernation of 

 Swallows, and their voluntary residence under water during the winter months, will lie 

 found in Professor Elliott Coues's well-known work on the ' Birds of the Colorado 

 Valley,' and the literature on this subject is shown by him to be extensive. So positive 

 is some of the evidence, and so certain were some writers of their statements, that there 

 is little wonder that a great amount of conviction accompanied the early students of this 

 apparent miracle. 



" They say," writes Professor Coixes, " that they have seen hundreds of Swallows, 

 in full flight, suddenly dive under water, and disappear beneath the siu'face. They 

 say that they have dug Swallows out of the mud, found them lethargic, and seen 

 them revive and fly away. They say that they have foiuid torpid Swallows in holes, in 

 caves, in various odd nooks, sometimes singly, sometimes clustered like bees swarming, 

 and have picked them up apparently dead, and have reanimated them by the warmth of 

 the hands. They say much more to the same effect, and give full particulars. 



" I have never seen anything of the sort, nor have I ever known one wlio has seen it ; 

 consequently I know nothing of the case but what I have read about it. But I have no 

 means of refuting the evidence, and consequently cannot refuse to recognize its validity. 

 Nor have I aught to urge against it, beyond the degree of incredibility tliat attaclu^s to 

 highly exceptional and improbable allegations in general, and in particular the diiriculty 

 of understanding the alleged abruptness of the transition from activity to torpor." 



Professor Coucs very aptly draws attention to the fact that this story of the 

 hibernation of Swallows is a very ancient one, and existed for centuries beforo anytliiiig 

 VOL. I. Ic 



