Pemeede, SW ACL LY OCW": 
This rendevouz of fwallows about the fame time 
of year is very common on the willows, in the lit- . 
tle ifles in the Thames. They feem to aflemble 
for the fame purpofe as thofe in Hampjfbire, not- 
withftanding no one yet has been eye witnefs~ of 
their departure. On the 26th of September latt, 
two Gentlemen who happened to lie at Maidenhead 
bridge, furnifhed at left a proof of the multitudes 
there aflembled: they went by-torch- light to an 
adjacent ifle, and in lefs than half an hour brought — 
afhore fifty dozen; for they had nothing more to 
do than to draw the willow twigs through their 
hands, the birds never ftirring till they were taken. 
The northern naturalifts will perhaps fay, that 
this aflembly met for the purpofe of plunging into 
their fubaqueous winter quarters ; but was that the 
cafe, they would never efcape difcovery in a river 
perpetually fifhed as the Thames, fome of them 
muft inevitably be brought up in the nets that harafs 
that water. 
The fecond notion has great antiquity on its 
fide. Ariftotle* and Phny-+ give, as their belief, 
that fwallows do not remove very far from their 
fummer habitation, but winter in the hollows of 
rocks, and during that time lofe their feathers. 
The former part of their opinion has been adopted 
by feveral ingenious men; and of late, feveral 
proofs have. been broughe of fome fpecies, at left, 
* Hiff, an. 935; 
+ Lib. 10. .c. 24, 
Vor. I. Bic having 
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