[ 201 ] 



nefles, except that it perhaps contradicts a favourite hypothecs 

 which they have already maintained. 



Why is it more extraordinary that fwallows mould be torpid 

 during the winter, than that bats are found in this ffcate % and fo 

 many infects which are the food of fwallows ? 



But it may be faid, that as the fwallows have crowded the air 

 during the fummer in every part of Europe fmce the creation, 

 and as regularly difappear in winter, why have net the inftances of 

 their being found in afleeping ftate been more frequent ? 



To this it may be anfwered, that though our globe may have 

 been formed fo many centuries, yet the inhabitants of it have 

 fcarcely paid any attention to the fludy. of natural iiiitory but 

 within thefe late years. 



As for the antient Greeks and Romans, their chefs prevented 

 their being fo much in the fields as we are ; or, if they heard of 

 a rather extraordinary bird in their neighbourhood, they had not 

 a gun to moot it : the only method of attaining real knowledge 

 in natural hiiliory depends almoft: entirely upon the having fre- 

 quent opportunities of thus killing animals, and examining them 

 when dead. 



If they did not ftir much in their own country, much lefs did 

 they think of travelling into diftant regions ; want of bills of ex- 

 change, and of that curioiity which arifes from our being 

 thoroughly acquainted with what is near us at home, probably 

 occafioned this ; to which may alfo be added, the want of a variety 



d And yet how few can go to the places where bats are to be found 

 thus torpid during the winter ! I fpeak this from having been obliged 

 to fend as far as Totnefs in Devonlhire for fome, which were wanted in. 

 that Hate by Mr, Hviiter, F. R. S. 



■ 



D d of 



