234 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ing, half -dead object. There is absolutely no mistaking him (a 

 male), with his reddish throat and long-forked tail, and without 

 doubt none other than the bird seen on Dec. 11th. But — and here 

 is the mystery, if we grant it to be the same bird — where in the 

 interval has the bird been — a matter of ten days ? When seen 

 last (vide 11th inst.) the poor creature could scarcely fly, there- 

 fore it was quite incapable of taking a lengthy flight, and would 

 scarcely be likely to go on a speculative journey in search of 

 food when insects were fairly plentiful in the vicinity of the 

 stream where it had fed so long. On the other hand, is it 

 possible for it to have existed for ten days ivithout food ? Had it 

 been in a semi-torpid condition during that time in some warm 

 corner of an outbuilding, protected somewhat from the cold 

 weather, and then, having been partly revived by the milder 

 conditions which prevailed from 15th to 18th, managed for once 

 to struggle out in search of a scanty meal ? If so — and we grant 

 it possible for a bird to exist thus in a semi -torpid state for several 

 days — there might be some foundation for the accounts given of 

 Swallows being seen in attics, church-towers, roofs of buildings, 

 and other similar places, apparently dead ; or of Sand-Martins 

 being dug out of sand-pits and other sheltered places in a torpid 

 condition, and actually returning to life when subjected to the 

 effects of warmth. This theory of semi-torpidity does not seem to 

 have been yet entirely refuted, though it is usually regarded as im- 

 possible, but I am inclined to think there may be " something in 

 it." I would like to have the opinion of ornithologists regarding 

 the disappearance of the Swallow on Dec. 11th, and its re- 

 appearance on Dec. 21st. It is quite certain that the Sand- 

 Martins have not yet been in a torpid condition, as they have 

 been observed almost every day from Nov. 29th. 



(To be continued.) 



