[ ««« ] 



according to Linnaeus k ; and in this fituation therefore they feem 

 to be diverted of every pretention to be deemed birds, if their 

 being viviparous, and having no beaks, did not fufficiently ex- 

 clude them, as well as their want of feathers. As to their having 

 wings, a flying fim, or the flying fquirrel, might for the fame 

 reafon be confidered as birds. 



But the moft interesting part in relation to this animal, is its 

 ftate of torpidity during the winter, to which it is induced pro- 

 bably from want of flying-infetts for its food ', as. feems to be 

 the cafe with the fwallow tribe. 



In this part of the Natural Hiftory of this animal, I am much 

 indebted to the communication of a moft ingenious correfpon- 

 dent m , who knows where to find them torpid at any time 

 during the winter, and more particularly in a large cavern near 

 Tor bay \ 



The prevailing notion that they hang always in clutters touching 

 each other is not true, as this depends entirely upon their having 



k I conceive, however, Buffon to be more accurate when he informs 

 us that, v elles s'elevent de terre avec peine," which is alfo the cafe with 

 the Swiff , on account of the legs of that bird being fo Ihort, that the 

 Greek fynonym is otmaq. Linnaeus alfo Hates two other particulars with 

 regard to Bats, of which I fhould much doubt. He fays, that an Afiatic 

 fpecies (which he ftiles Vampyrus ) is phiebotomus felicijfnnus in pleuritide, 

 and fuppofes the common fort (named by him murinui) to be poi~ 

 fonous. 



1 Sleep therefore appears to be providential, not only for the refreih- 

 ment ariling from relaxation, but from the laving of food, becaufe all 

 animals, whilft awake, are very apt to eat, and this is the cafe with the 

 Greenland filhers who have perpetual day. 



« Mr. Cornifh, furgeon, at Totnefs in Devonfhire. 



a Homer had obferved them in the fame ftate, and afterwards nTuing 

 from a cavern : 



dq V fir; w»tTff/Xrff, l^vyj*! avfgi: 3s<T7rs<riGio, 

 'Tpt3tio~on wojipv\o^i 7t£ Tig cx7ro7rscr^criv 



OpjjLCiSx zk 'zsrejf/iiSi «vci ccKtykpriv zyo^oti. Odyfl. fi. 1. 7. 



' 5 , . - a 



