280 INSESSORES. 



[Order Insessores.] 



[Family FISSIROSTRES.] 



Of Swallows. 



Swallows of each, sort are the same in every part of the world, 

 which shows that they are birds of passage. This is not the case with 

 other birds that are not birds of passage ; for we may observe that all 

 countries have their [particular species of] animals [which] differ from 

 those of another country in some circumstances. Swallows live wholly 

 on flying insects, and those insects are only to be found in hot weather ; 

 therefore, in a climate that changes from hot to cold, we can only have 

 those insects in the hot season ; and the swallow too can only be there 

 in those seasons. In warm climates, where there is a sufficient degree 

 of heat all the year round for those insects to live in, we find the 

 swallows all the year round. 



Swallows are not easily tamed so as to live in a cage ; for they do not 

 peck their food, when both they and their food are at rest, but catch it 

 when both are in motion. This motion cannot be had to either food 

 or bird in a small place : however, they have been tamed. Mr. Pearson 

 tamed several and gave me one of them. 



Swallows are of two kinds in England : one, a small white-bellied 

 one l ; the other, a large black one 2 . The white-bellied one catches its 

 food in the heat of the day ; the black one catches its food nearly in 

 the evening, towards dusk. In the year 1764, I saw a swallow at the 

 beginning of October. In the forward spring of 1791, I saw swallows 

 about the 20th day of April. 



If swallows sleep in the winter, as it is said, it must be very different 

 from the manner in which the bear, dormouse, lizards, snakes, &c. do. 

 Some of these really sleep most of the time ; the others are in a state 

 of stupor or insensibility : but the swallow must be in a state of total 

 suspense of animal action, such as they say people are when in a trance. 

 There can be no circulation, as there can be no respiration. 



Perfect sleep is a suspension of sensibility ; and a trance is a suspen- 

 sion of simple life. 



The Night- raven, or Goatsucker [Caprimulgus europaus], 

 A night-raven has no crop. The stomach is not so strong as a hen's, 



1 [This may be either the chimney -swallow, Hirundo rustica ; or the bank- 

 swallow, Hir. rvparia ; or the window-swallow, Hir. v.rhica.] 



2 [This is the swift {Cypselus murarius).] 



