Class II. SWALLOWS. 557 



early between his house and the coast, at the 

 beginning of his journey he was environed with 

 a thick fog, but on a large wild heath the mist 

 began to break, and discovered to him num- 

 berless swallows, clustered on the standing 

 bushes, as if they had roosted there ; as soon 

 as the sun burst out, they were instantly on 

 wing, and with an easy and placid flight pro- 

 ceeded towards the sea. After this he saw 

 no more flocks, only now and then a strag- 

 gler.* 



This rendezvous of swallows about the same 

 time of year is very common on the willows, 

 in the little isles in the Thames. They seem to 

 assemble for the same purpose as those in 

 Hampshire, notwithstanding no one yet has 

 been eye-witness of their departure. On the 

 26th of September last, two gentlemen who hap- 

 pened to lie at Maidenhead bridge, furnished at 

 lest a proof of the multitudes there assembled : 

 they went by torch-light to an adjacent isle, and 



* In Kalm's Voyage to America, is a remarkable instance of 

 the distant flight of swallows; for one lighted on the ship 

 he was in, September 2d. when he had passed only over two 

 thirds of the Atlantic ocean. His passage was uncommonly 

 quick, being performed from Deal to Philadelphia in less than 

 six weeks ; and when this accident happened, he was fourteen 

 days' sail from Cape Hinlopen. 



