152 MIGRATIONS OF THE CLIFF SWALLOW. 



the month of November, I kept a diary of the temperature from the 

 3d of November until the arrival of the Hirundo purpurea. The fol- 

 lowing notes are taken from my journal, and, as I had excellent oppor- 

 tunities, during a residence of many years in that country, of visiting 

 the lakes to which these swallows were said to resort, during the tran- 

 sient frosts, I present them with confidence: — 



November 1 1. — Weather very sharp, with a heavy white frost. 

 Swallows in abundance during the whole day. On inquiring of the 

 inhabitants if this was a usual occurrence, I was answered in the 

 affirmative by all the French and Spaniards. From this date to the 

 22d, the thermometer averaged 65°, the weather generally a drizzly 

 fog. Swallows playing over the city in thousands. 



November 25. Thermometer this morning at 30°. Ice in New 

 Orleans a quarter of an inch thick. The swallows resorted to the 

 Cypress Swamp, in the rear of the city. Thousands were flying in 

 different flocks. Fourteen were killed at a single shot, all in perfect 

 plumage, and very fat. The markets were abundantly supplied with 

 these tender, juicy, and delicious birds. Saw swallows every day ; but 

 remarked them more plentiful the stronger the breeze blew from the 

 sea. 



December 20. — The weather continues much the same. Foggy and 

 drizzly mist. The thermometer averaging 63°. 



January 14. — The thermometer 42°. Weather continues the same. 

 My little favourites constantly in view. 



January 28. — Thermometer at 40°. Having seen the Hirundo vtridis 

 continually, and the Hirundo purpurea, or purple martin, beginning to 

 appear, I discontinued my observations. 



During the whole winter many of them retired to the holes about the 

 houses ; but the greater number resorted to the lakes, and spent the 

 night among the branches of Myrica cerifera, the drier, as it is termed 

 by the French settlers. 



About sunset they began to flock together, calling to each other for 

 that purpose, and, in a short time, presented the appearance of clouds 

 moving towards the lakes, or the mouth of the Mississippi, as the 

 weather and w 7 ind suited. Their aerial evolutions, before they alight, 

 are truly beautiful. They appear at first as if reconnoitring the place, 

 when suddenly throwing themselves into a vortex of apparent confusion, 

 they descend spirally with astonishing quickness, and very much 

 resemble a trombe, or water-spout. When within a few feet of the 

 drier s, they disperse in all directions, and settle in a few moments. 



