284 NATURAL HISTORY 



out later than the middle of March, and 

 often happened early in February. 



It was worth remarking that these birds 

 are seen first about lakes and mill-ponds ; 

 and it is also very particular, that if these 

 early visitors happen to find frost and 

 snow, as was the case of the two dreadful 

 Springs of 1 770 and 1771, they immediately 

 withdraw^ for a time. A circumstance this, 

 much more in favour of hiding than mi- 

 gration ; since it is much more probable 

 that a bird should retire to its hybernacu- 

 lum just at hand, than return for a week or 

 two only to warmer latitudes. 



The swallow, though called the chimney- 

 swallow by no means builds altogether in 

 chimnies, but often within barns and out- 

 houses against the rafters and so she did in 

 Virgil's time. 



^ " Ante 



Garrula quam tignis nidos suspendat hirundo." 



In Sweden she builds in barns, and is 

 called ladu swala, the barn-swallow. Be- 



