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birds ; and, upon fearch, were found to be open 

 and empty. Many of the holes were examined, 

 and traced to their utmoft extent, and no birds 

 were found in them. 



I humbly beg pardon for troubling the reader 

 with conjedtures fo new and uncommon ; but, 

 as I cannot folve the difappearance of thefe birds 

 any other way, I hope the hint may put fome per- 

 fon, of a more acute penetration, upon fearching 

 out the true place of their winter habitation, or 

 at leaft produce fome more probable conjedure. 

 It is the opinion of feveral very curious and 

 learned gentlemen, that feveral of our Englifh 

 fmall birds, which difappear in the winter, do 

 not pafs the feas into foreign countries, but that 

 they hide themfelves in holes and caverns, where 

 they lie torpid all the winter. The reafon they 

 give for it is, that they become fo fat in the au- 

 tumn, at the time of their difappearing, that 

 they can make but very fhort flights : and this 

 fatnefs is fuppofed to fupply and nourifh them 

 during the winter. But this opinion will not, 



I be- 



