MARTINS. 347 
admit the principle of torpidity. Yet even if this 
phenomenon be granted as established, it seems 
strange that these few stragglers should exhibit 
themselves on some occasions on cold uncomfortable 
days. On October 30th, 1837, we had at this village 
cold showers with intervening gleams of sunshine, 
and then, a pair of Swallows haunting a chimney of 
my house came forth to feed ; on November 25th 
and 30th, when the sun shone rather warmly for the 
season, they again issued forth. On the other hand, 
my brother-in-law writes me word, that on Novem- 
ber 16th and 19th, 1837, when the weather was 
decidedly cold he saw two Swallows hawking at a 
spot near Falmouth. In 1838 two Swallows were 
seen by me on November 14th and 19th, which 
were rather fine days ; frosts however had been ex- 
perienced before. I hadalsoseen several on Oct. 20th. 
Mr. Lyte, jun. of Berry House informs me that on 
Christmas eve, 1837, he saw a flock of Swallows 
frequenting a field overhanging the sea at Berry 
Head ; they remained several days, but disappeared 
in a very abrupt manner. 
In 1835, Martins were playing over a large fish 
pond in this parish on April 17th, which was a clear, 
sunny day ; stragglers had been noticed for a few 
days before. On November 13th, 1837, a flock of 
Martins appeared flying about in their usual manner 
over a marsh near Falmouth, the weather warm and 
sunny.* Martins are very prone to take up new 
residences, and are particularly fickle and undeter- 
* The wet spring, summer, and autumn, of 1839, proved 
particularly unpropitious to the progress of the rearing of the 
broods of all kinds of birds. The Hirundines in the bulk departed 
early, but young Swallows were noticed by me in several spots 
on to the end of September, and so late as October 4th, parties of 
young Martins were noticed along the coast, feeding previously to 
Ss 2 
