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fliew what becomes of them in Europe during our 

 winter. 



Though it might be anfwered, that it is not ne- 

 cefTary, thofe who endeavour to (hew the inipoffi- 

 bility of another fyftem or hypothecs, (hould from 

 thence be obliged to fet up one of their own j yet I 

 fhall, without any difficulty, fay, that I at leaft am 

 convinced fwallows (and perhaps fome other birds) 

 are torpid during the winter. 



I have not, I muft own, myfelf ever feen them in 

 this ftate ; but, having heard inftances of their being 

 thus found, from others of undoubted veracity, I 

 have not fcarcely the leaft doubt with regard to this 

 point. 



It is, indeed, rather difficult to conceive why 

 fome ornithologifts continue to withhold their aflents 

 to fuch a cloud of witnefles, except that it perhaps 

 contradicts a favourite hypothecs which they have 

 already maintained. 



Why is it more extraordinary that fwallows mould 

 be torpid during the winter, than that bats are found 

 in this ftate, and fo many infects, which are the food 

 of fwallows ? 



JBut it may be faid, that as the fwallows have 

 crowded the air during the fummer, in every part 

 of Europe fince the creation, and as regularly dis- 

 appear in winter, why have not the inftances of their 

 being found in a torpid ftate been more frequent ? 



To this it may be anfwered, that though our 

 globe may have been formed (o many centuries, yet 

 the inhabitants of it have fcarcely paid any attention 

 to the ftudy of natural hiftory, but within thefe late 

 years. 



As 



