[ 2 3° ] 



Mr. Stephens, A. S. S. informs me, that when he was 14 years 

 of age, a pond of his father's (who was vicar of Shrivenham in 

 Berkfhire) was cleaned during the month of February, that he 

 picked up himfelf a clufter of three or four fwallows (or martins) 

 which were caked together in the mud, that the birds were 

 carried into the kitchen, on which they foon afterwards flew 

 about the room, in the prefence of his father, mother, and 

 others, particularly the Rev. Dr. Pye. Mr. Stephens alfo told 

 me that his father obferved at the time, he had read of fimilar 

 inftances in the Northern writers. Though I have ftated thefe 

 birds to have been either fwallows (or martins) I rather luppofe 

 them to have been the former, from their being found under 

 water. 



The compilers of the Encyclopedic (art. Mort.) have inferted 

 the following obfervation and fact in relation to fwallows dis- 

 covered in the fame Situation. 



" Plufieurs oifeaux paflent auffi tout I'hyver fous les eaux, telles 

 " font les hlrondelles, qui loin d'aller fuivant V err cur po-pulaire fort 

 " accreditee, dans les climats plus chauds, fe precipitent au fond 

 " de la mer, des lacs, & des rivieres, &c." 



It is there alfo dated, that Mr. Falconet, a phyfician, living at 

 Paris, had feen in one of the provinces, " unemafle de terreque 

 " les pecheurs avoient tiree de l'eaue ; apres avoir lavee & debro- 

 " nillee, il appercut que ce n'etoit autre chofe qu'un amas d'hi- 

 '* rondelles," which, on being brought to the fire, revived, the 

 timers declaring that this was not uncommon. 



The late ingenious Mr. Stillingfleet informs us, that one fwal- 

 low's being found at the bottom of a pond in winter, and brought 

 to life by warmth, was attefted to him by a gentleman of character '. 



Some years ago the moat of Aix-la-Chapelle was cleaned during 

 the month of October, and the water let out for that purpofe, 



1 Mifc. Tr. p. 106. 



wherf 



