SWALLow. INSECTIVORI. HIRUNDO. 127 
young birds have acquired sufficient strength to undertake 
their long journey, which is the case about the end of Sep- 
tember, they prepare for their migration to the warm regions 
of Africa, where they pass the hyemal months. I consider 
it unnecessary, in the present advanced state of knowledge, 
to offer many observations on the once prevalent notion of the 
hybernation of Swallows in this country, as the wonderful 
laws which regulate the migration of birds, are alone suffi- 
cient to account for the phenomena of their appearance and 
disappearance at stated periods. From the experiments made, 
it appears that the Swallows which have been kept in con- 
finement regularly moulted in February,—a fact totally at 
variance with the idea of the bird going into such a torpid 
state as has been represented, and sufficient to prove the im- 
probability, nay, I may say impossibility, of such an event. 
Let it be admitted, that a few individuals may, at different 
times, have been found in a half-dead or benumbed state, 
under the eaves of houses, or in similar places of retreat, (the 
natural consequence of remaining in an uncongenial climate), 
‘such will, doubtless, have been young birds of late hatchings, 
not able to undergo the fatigue of so long a flight, or old 
birds, reduced by sickness and other casualties to a similar 
condition; and all of which, I should be strongly inclined to 
believe, die before the expiration of the winter. As a proof 
that the circumstance may happen, I adduce two instances of 
having found this bird in the months of December and Fe- 
bruary, both of which individuals appeared to have recently 
died.—The food of the Swallow consists entirely of insects, 
which it takes with great dexterity on the wing. During the 
summer, the scenery of the margins of rivers, and the quiet 
surface of lakes and other picces of water, are enlivened by 
_ the busy flight of this, and the other species of Swallow, at- 
tracted by the swarms of winged insects that are always found 
im such situations. When feeding, it flies with the mouth 
extended, and the capture of its prey is attended with a snap 
of the bill, audible by an attentive ear. It drinks also, and 
frequently bathes, whilst on wing. 
Argument 
against its 
hyberna- 
tion. 
Food. 
