— 496 — . 



nomenal and problematical." Though we know that in 

 certain seasons " myriads of the Swallows are at play in 

 the air in Mexico, in the West Indies and in Central 

 America," there are many points to be cleared up about 

 their habits and migration. 



It was gravely asserted centuries ago, and it has been 

 steadily reiterated at intervals ever since, that Swallows 

 plunge into the mud, become torpid and hibernate like 

 frogs. " Learned bodies like the French Academy in 

 Paris, and the Eoyal Society of London, have discussed 

 the matter, printed the evidence in their officials publi- 

 cations, and looked as wise after as before their mediat- 

 ions on the subject." It would take us far beyond my 

 limits to describe fully the peculiar habits, conjugal 

 fidelity, annual migrations and various nesting-places 

 of the several varieties of Swallows who visit us ; the 

 Bank Swallow, the Barn Swallow, the Cliff and Eaves 

 Swallow, the pretty Social Swallow, known as the 

 White Bellied, and the noisy Purple Martin, which 

 nested for a century and more in the lofty eaves of the 

 old Jesuit College at Quebec. Alas ! no more : those 

 possibly noticed there by Judge John Joseph Henry 

 as stated in his letter to Alexander Wilson. With the 

 inquisitive French cobbler, who tied a collar to a Swal- 

 low's neck in the fall, on which the following query 

 was inscribed, we too, on trying a similar experiment, 

 might, who knows, get a reply in the spring ? 



« Hirondelle, 



Si fidele, 



Dis-moi, l'hiver, ou vas-tu ? 



" Dans Athenes, 



Chez Antoine, 



Pourquoi t'en informes-tu ? " 



