number can attach themfelves, and after uttering a folemn 

 dirge, plunging into an element, which by nature they, are 

 not gifted with power to exift in, and remain torpid from 

 September till March or April ; thus, a body fpecifically 

 lighter than water, is made to ufe a fubftance flill lighter than 

 itfelf, to afiift it in finking to the bottom. 



From accounts received from feveral intelligent navigators, 

 thefe birds have frequently been known to alight on the rigging 

 of their veffels, both about the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, 

 particularly in different parts of the Mediterranean. . We have 

 been informed by a perfon, who annually vifits the ifland 

 of Zante, that thefe birds are feen in immenfe numbers twice 

 in the year on that ifland ; their flay is but fhort, in the fpring 

 about ten or twelve days, and in the autumn only four or five ; 

 from which place in autumn they purfue their journey fouth- 

 ward, and in the fpring to the northward ; we frequently fee 

 them detained here, for fome weeks after their cuftomary time 

 of departure, by adverfe winds ; thofe few which are fometimes 

 obferved after the general migration, perhaps as late as Novem- 

 ber, muft be confidered either as fo late hatched, as not to be 

 able to perform fo long a journey, or were labouring under 

 fome difeafe or accident which prevented them from joining 

 their aflbciates. The length of wing, joined to the fmall bulk 

 of body, render thefe birds far more capable than moft of our 

 migrative fpecies of performing a long journey. In fine 

 fummer weather, they may be feen for fourteen or fixteen 

 hours together almoft continually on the wing, either in pur* 

 fuit of each other, or of infe&s. 



Swallows are frequently obferved in warm weather, rolling 

 themfelves in the duft, but for what purpofe is doubtful ; 



they 



