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U fwaliows aimoft covered his rigging ; that they were nearly 

 " fpent and famifhed, and were only .feathers and. bones; but 

 " being recruited by a night's reft, they took their night in the 

 " morning;." 



The firil anfwer to this is, that if thefe were birds which had 

 crofted large traces of fea in their periodical migrations, tire fame 

 accident muft happen eternally, both in the fpring and autumn, 

 which is not however pretended by any one. 



In the next place, the fwaliows are ftated to be fpent both by- 

 famine and fatigue ; and how were they to procure any flies or 

 other fuftenance on the rigging of the admiral's fhip, though they 

 might indeed reft themfelves ? W 



Sir Charles, however, expreffly informs us, that he was in the 

 channel, and within foundings : thefe birds, therefore (like Bel- 

 Ion's quails) were only palling probably from headland to head- 

 land ; and being forced out by a ftrong wind, were obliged to fet- 

 tle upon the firft fhip they faw x , or otherwife muft have dropped 

 into the fea, which I make no doubt happens to many unfortunate 

 birds under the fame circumftances. 



As the birds which thus fettled upon Sir Charles Wager's rig- 

 ging were fwaliows, it very naturally brings me now to confider 

 the celebrated obfervation of Monf. Adanfon, under all its cir- 



x Mr. Franklin of Tobago informs me, that being 60 or 70 leagues 

 from the coafl: of Portugal, at the latter end of December^ many birds 

 of different forts, blown from the land, fettled on the fliip, and, amoneft 

 the reft, a Woodcock and Skylark. The Skylark was taken up by Mr. 

 Franklin himfelf, and was fo fatigued that it inftantly fhewed an inclina- 

 tion to fleep ; after which, being put into a cage, the bird not only re- 

 covered, but became the next day remarkably tame. A hawk which 

 would not fettle on the ihip was obferved to drop into the fea. ii For it 

 " often happens, that birds not natives of our illand are, through' ftorms, 

 " or other accidental caufes (unknown to us), brought over hither, 51 

 Edwards's Gleanings in the article Rofe-coloaf 'd OufeL 



B b cumftanceSj. 



