THE REPUBLICAN OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 179 



the cliffs of the Kentucky, he had seen many bunches, as he termed them, of 

 these nests attached to the naked shelving rocks overhanging that river. 



Being extremely desirous of settling the long-agitated question respecting 

 the migration or supposed torpidity of Swallows, I embraced every opportu- 

 nity of examining their habits, carefully noted their arrival and disappear- 

 ance, and recorded every fact connected with their history. After some 

 years of constant observation and reflection, I remarked that among all the 

 species of migratory birds, those that remove farthest from us, depart sooner 

 than those which retire only to the confines of the United States; and, by a 

 parity of reasoning, those that remain later return earlier in the spring. 

 These remarks were confirmed as I advanced towards the south-west, on the 

 approach of winter, for I there found numbers of Warblers, Thrushes, &c. in 

 full feather and song. It was also remarked that the Hirundo viridis of 

 Wilson (called by the French of Lower Louisiana Le Petit Martinet a 

 ventre blanc) remained about the city of New Orleans later than any other 

 Swallow. As immense numbers of them were seen during the month of 

 November, I kept a diary of the temperature from the 3d of that month, un- 

 til the arrival of Hirundo purpurea. The following notes are taken from 

 my journal, and as I had excellent opportunities, during a residence of many 

 years in that country, of visiting the lakes to which these Swallows were 

 said to resort, during the transient frosts, I present them with confidence. 



Nov. 11. — Weather very sharp, with a heavy white frost. Swallows in 

 abundance during the whole day. On inquiring of the inhabitants if this was 

 a usual occurrence, I was answered in the affirmative by all the French and 

 Spaniards. From this date to the 22nd, the thermometer averaged 65°, the 

 weather generally a drizzly fog. Swallows playing over the city in thou- 

 sands. 



Nov. 25. — Thermometer this morning at 30°. Ice in New Orleans a quar- 

 ter of an inch thick. The Swallows resorted to the lee of the Cypress Swamp 

 in the rear of the city. Thousands were flying in different flocks. Fourteen 

 were killed at a single shot, all in perfect plumage, and very fat. The mar- 

 kets were abundantly supplied with these tender, juicy, and delicious birds. 

 Saw Swallows every day, but remarked them more plentiful the stronger the 

 breeze blew from the sea. 



Jan. 14. — Thermometer 42°. Weather continues drizzly. My little fa- 

 vourites constantly in view. 



Jan. 28. — Thermometer at 40°. Having seen the Hirundo viridis con- 

 tinually, and the H. purpurea or Purple Martin beginning to appear, I dis- 

 continued my observations. 



During the whole winter many of them retired to the holes about the 

 houses, but the greater number resorted to the lakes, and spent the night 



