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whether any inftance can be produced where the fame animal is 

 calculated for a ftate of torpidity and,, at the fame time of the year, 

 for a flight acrofs oceans ? 



But it may be urged, poffibly, that if fwallows are torpid when 

 they difappear, the fame thing mould happen with regard to other 

 birds, which are not feen in particular parts of the year. 



To this I anfwer, that this is by no means a neceffary infe- 

 rence : if, for example, it mould be infifted that other birds be- 

 fides the cuckow are equally carelefs with regard to their eggs, it 

 would be immediately allowed that the argument ariiihg fromfuclr 

 fuppofed analogy could by no means be relied upon. 



It is poffible, however, that fome other birds, which are con- 

 ceived to migrate, may be really torpid as well as fwallows ; and 

 if it be afked why they are not fometimes alfo feen in fuch a ftate 

 during the winter, the anfwer feems to be, that perhaps there 

 may be a hundred fwallows to any other fort of bird, and that 

 they commonly are found fleeping in clufters. 



If a lingle bird of any other kind happens to be feen in the win- 

 ter, without motion or apparent warmth, it is immediately con-- 

 ceived that it died by fome common accident. 



I mail, however, without any referve, fay, that I rathec con- 

 ceive the notion which prevails with regard to the migration of 

 many birds, may moil: commonly arife from the want of obferva- 

 tion, and ready knowledge of them, when they are feen on the 

 wing, even by profelfed ornithologists. 



It is an old faying, that " a bird in the hand is worth two in 

 u the bum ;" and this holds equally with regard to their being 

 diftinguifhed, when- thofe even who ftudy natural hiftory have 

 but a tranfient fight of the animal n . 



" If, 



n An ingenious friend of mine makes always a very proper diftindtioii 

 between what he calls in-door and out- door naturalifts. 



T-homas 



