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 ftill lighter than, 
itfelf, to afllft it in fmking to the bottom. 
From accounts received from feveral intelligent navigators, 
thefe birds have frequently been known to alight on the rigging 
of their veflels, 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 cuflomary 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 affociates. The length of wing, joined to the fmall bulk 
of body, render thefe birds far more capable than mofl of our 
migrative fpecies of performing a long journey. In fine 
fummer weather, they may be feen for fourteen or fixteen 
hours together almofl continually on the wing, either in pur- 
fuit of each other, or of infeds. 
Swallows are frequently obferved in warm weather, rolling 
themfelves in the duft, but for what purpofe is doubtful ; 
they 
