f 184 ] 



the bird, in autumn and the fpring, muff, be in full vigour upon 

 its recovery from this periodical illnefs : it can therefore as little 

 brook confinement, as the phyfician's patient upon the return of 

 health after illneis. 



Thus much I have thought it neceffary to fay in anfwer to M. 

 de Button, who " dum crrat, docet," who fcarcely ever argues 

 ill but when he is mifinformed as to facls, and who often, from 

 ftrength of underftanding, disbelieves fuch intelligence as might 

 impofe upon a naturalift of iefs acutenefs and penetration. 



The next infrance of a bird being caught at any diftance from 

 land, is in Sir Hans Sloane's Voyage to Jamaica, who fays, that a 

 lark was taken in the fhip 40 leagues from the fhore : this there- 

 fore was certainly an unfortunate bird, forced out to fea by a ftrong 

 wind in flying from headland to headland, as no one fuppofes the 

 (kylark to be a bird of paliage. 



The fame anfwer may be given to a yellow-hammer's fettling 

 upon Haflelquift's fhip in the entrance of the Mediterranean, with 

 this difference, that either the European or African coaft muft 

 have been much nearer than 40 leagues 



The next fact to be confidered is what is mentioned in a letter 

 of Mr. Peter Collinfon's, printed in the Philofophical Tranf- 

 aclions u . 



He there fays, " That Sir Charles Wager had frequently in- 

 " formed him, that in one of his voyages home in the fpring, as 

 " he came into foundings in our chanel, that a great flock of 



I mould therefore rather account for the extraordinary brilknefs of a 

 quail in autumn and the fpring, from its recovery after moulting in the 

 former, and from the known effects of the fpring as to moft animals in 

 the latter. 



c See Haffelquift's Travels. Crantz mentions that a Redpoll forced 

 out by a ftorm hath been taken in a Ihip which was 40 leagues from 

 Greenland. Vol.1, p. 77. 



" 1760. Part II. p. 461. 



" fwallows 



