[ 2 88] 



to build in fuch fmall fpots of land, where there are 

 fUll fewer houfes ? 



The next facl: I have happened to meet with of 

 a bird's being feen at a confiderable diflance from 

 the fhore, is in Mr. Forfter's lately publifhed 

 translation of Kalm's account of N. America*. 



We are there informed that a bird (which Kalm 

 calls a fwallow) was feen near the fhip on the 2d 

 ©f September, and, as he fuppofes, 20 degrees from 

 the continent of America •f. 



It appears however, by what he before ftates in his 

 journal, that the (hip was not above 5 degrees from 

 the ifland of Sable. 



Beiides, if it is contended that this was an Euro- 

 pean fwailow on its pafiage acrofs the Atlantic on 

 the 2d of September, it is too early even for a fwift, 

 to have been on its migration, which difappears 

 with us fooner than the three other fpecies of Euro- 

 pean fwallows \. 



Only two more inftances have occurred of birds 

 being feen in open fea that have been defcribed 



* Vol. I. p. 24. 



f It may not be improper here to obferve, that in all inftances 

 of birds being feen at fea any great diftance from the coaft, it is 

 not improbable that they may have before fettled on fome other 

 veffel, or perhaps on a piece of floating wreck. 



By accidents of this fort, even butterflies have fometimes been 

 caught by the failors at 40 leagues diftance from any land. See 

 Monf. 1'Abbe Courte de la Blanchadiere's Voyage to Brazil, Paris, 

 j 759, 2 1 mo. p. 169. 



\ The bird mentioned by Kalm was probably an American 

 fwallow, forced out to fea by fome accidental ftorm : there are 

 foveral fpecies of them and they fetm to bear a general affinity to 

 thofe of Europe. 



with 



