{ "7 ] 



though I have fent people out with guns to {hoot them. My in- 

 ducement was to examine them upon their firft appearance, and 

 to fee in what plight they might be, both as to cafe and plu- 

 mage b ; as alfo what they might feed upon before many winged 

 infects are to be found. 



Upon my return towards London I have commonly feen five 

 or fix Humming over the river Clwyd c , near the gate of the town 

 of Ruthin, which is called Porthydwr. 



After this, it hath commonly happened, that I have not ob- 

 ferved any of this tribe of birds but at the diftance of 20, 30, or 

 40 miles, and this always depending upon the approach to rivers 

 or ponds, fo that I could be tolerably certain where I might ex- 

 pect to obferve them. 



Thefe circumftances feem to me very decilive, that fwallows 

 are concealed near the place where they begin to appear ; and on 

 firft confideration of thefe facls it may be perhaps inferred, that 

 thefe birds are all to be found under the water ; it muft however 



dividuals of thofe two fpecies of Britifh hirundines, do never leave this 

 ifland at all, but partake of the fame benumbed ftate ; for we cannot 

 fuppofe that, after a month's abfence, houfe-martins can return from 

 fouthern regions to appear for one morning in November or that houfe- 

 fwallows fhould leave the diftridb of Africa to enjoy in March the tran- 

 fient fummer of a couple of days, 



I am, with great efteem, 



Your obliged and humble fervant, 



GiL. White. 



b I have been informed however by Mr. Cornim, an ingenious natu- 

 ralift and furgeon at Totnefs, that he hath been more fortunate, and that 

 the plumage of the birds look as ufual, but that their bodies are much 

 emaciated. 



c I need fcarcely remind the reader of the old Greek proverb, tranflated 

 into fo many languages, " that one fwallow does not make the fpnng" 



G g 2 be 



