ever I came to the passages which you quote. 

 Surely the judicious Virgil, when writing a didactic 

 poem for the region of Italy, could never think of 

 describing freezing rivers, unless such severity of 

 weather pretty frequently occurred ! 



Two swallows have appeared amidst snows and 

 frost. 



Selborne, April 12, 1770. 



LETTER XXXIV. 

 To Thomas Pennant, Esq. 



Last month we had such a series of cold turbu- 

 lent weather, such a constant succession of frost, and 

 snow, and hail, and tempest, that the regular migra- 

 tion or appearance of the summer birds was much 

 interrupted. Some, as the blackcap and white- 

 throat, did not show themselves (at least were not 

 heard) till weeks after their usual time ; and some, as 

 the grasshoppei*-lark and largest willow-wren, have 

 not been heard yet. As to the fly-catcher, I have not 

 seen it ; it is indeed one of the latest, but should ap- 

 pear about this time : and yet, amidst all this mete- 

 orous strife and war of the elements, two swallows 

 discovered themselves as long ago as the nth of 

 April, in frost and snow ; but they withdrew quickly 



and were not visible again for many days. House- 



132 



