Class II. 



SWALLOWS. 



555 



ropean swallows, has been proved beyond con- 

 tradiction (as above cited) by M. Adanson. 

 We often observe them collected in flocks in- 

 numerable on churches, on rocks, and on trees, 

 previous to their departure hence ; and Mr. 

 Collinson proves their return here in perhaps 

 equal numbers, by two curious relations of un- 

 doubted credit : the one communicated to him 

 by Mr. Wright, master of a ship ; the other by 

 the late Sir Charles JVager, who both describ- 

 ed (to the same purpose) what happened to 

 each in their voyages. " Returning home, says 

 ' Sir Charles, in the spring of the year, as I 

 ' came into sounding in our channel, a great 

 ' flock of swallows came and settled on all my 

 ' rigging ; every rope was covered ; they hung 

 ' on one another like a swarm of bees ; the 

 ' decks and carving ^vere filled with them. 

 ' They seemed almost famished and spent, and 

 ' were only feathers and bones ; but being 

 ' recruited with a night's rest, took their flight 

 ' in the morning."* This vast fatigue, proves 

 that the journey must have been very great, 

 considering the amazing swiftness of these birds : 

 in all probability they had crossed the Atlantic 



* Phil Trans, vol. li. Part 2. p. 469- 



