are said to do on the yelpings of jackals, 

 and starlino;s sometimes associate. 



Selborne, Feb. S, 1772. 



Lapwings 



LETTER XLIX. 



To THE HOXOURABLE DaIXES BaRRIXGTOX. 



As a orentleman and mvself were walking: on the 

 4th of last November round the sea-banks at New- 

 haven, near the mouth of the Lewes river, in pursuit 

 of natural knowledge, we were surprised to see three 

 house-swallows gliding very swiftly by us. That 

 morning was rather chilly, with the wind at north- 

 west ; but the tenor of the weather for some time 

 before had been delicate, and the noons remarkably 

 warm. From this incident, and from repeated ac- 

 counts which I meet with, I am more and more in- 

 duced to believe that many of the swallow kind do 

 not depart from this island ; but lay themselves up 

 in holes and caverns : and do, insect-like and bat- 

 like,"^ come forth at mild times, and then retire again 



^ Concerning swallows, the reader will see that Mr. White appears 

 to incline more and more in favour of their torpidity, and against their 

 migration. ]\Ir. D. Barrington is still more positive on the same side of 

 the question ; yet the ancients generally mention this bird as wintering 

 in Africa. See Anacreon Ky. ed. Brunch, p. 3S. The Rhodians had a 

 festival called xeAiO(^j'm. vdien the boys brought about young swallows ; 



175 



