[ 200 3 



Let us fuppofe, then, a fwallow to be equal to a paflage acrofs 

 the Atlantic in other refpe&s ; how is the bird to be infured of 

 the wind's continuing for clays in the fame quarter; or how is 

 he to depend upon its continuing to blow againft his flight with 

 moderation ? For who can fuppofe that a fwallow can make his 

 way to the point of direction, when buffeted by a fcorm blowing 

 in the teeth of his intended paffage c ? 



Laftly, can it be conceived that thefe, or any other birds, can 

 be impelled by a providential inftin£t, regularly to attempt what 

 feems to be attended with fuch infuperable difficulties, and what 

 moft frequently leads to certain deftruction ? 



But it will ftill be objected, that, as fwallows regularly appear 

 and difappear at certain feafons, it is incumbent upon thofe who 

 deny their migration to ffiew what becomes of them in Europe 

 during our winter. 



Though it might be anfwered, that it is not necefTary thofe, 

 who endeavour to (hew the impoflibility of another fyffem or hy- 

 pothefis, fhould from thence be obliged to fet up one of their 

 own ; yet I fhall, without any difficulty, fay, that I at leaff am 

 convinced fwallows (and perhaps fome other birds) are torpid 

 during the winter. 



I have not, I muff: own, myfelf ever feen them in this ffate ; 

 but, having heard inftances of their being thus found from others 

 of undoubted veracity, I have fcarcely the leaff doubt with re- 

 gard to this point. 



It is, indeed, rather difficult to conceive why fome ormtholo- 

 gifts continue to withhold their aflents to fuch a cloud of wit- 



? I have myfelf attended to fwallows during a High wind, and have 

 obferved that they fly only in flickered places, whilft they almoft touch 

 the furface of the ground. The fea-fowl even, on the approach of a 

 hurricane, fly to the land for fttelter. Voyage to the ifland of Mauritius, 

 in 1768, p. 189. 



neffes, 



