SELBORNE 301 



temperate country in the Southern Hemisphere 

 shelters itself under the thick matted grass, and 

 remains torpid during spells of cold weather. 

 We have now a magnificent monograph of the 

 swallows, and it is there stated of the purple 

 martin, an American species, that in some years 

 bitter cold weather succeeds its arrival in early 

 spring in Canada; that at such times the birds 

 take refuge in their nesting holes and lie huddled 

 together in a semi -torpid state, sometimes for 

 a week or ten days, until the return of genial 

 weather, when they revive and appear as full 

 of life and vigour as before. It is said that 

 these and other swallows are possessed of habits 

 and powers of which we have as yet but shght 

 knowledge. Candour would compel me to add 

 that the author of the monograph in question, 

 who is one of the first living ornithologists, is 

 inclined to believe that some swallows in some 

 circumstances do hibernate. 



At this I should experience a curious and 

 almost startUng sensation, as if the airy hands 

 of my invisible companion had been clapped 

 together, and the clap had been followed by an 

 exclamation — a triumphant " Ah I " 



