OBSERVATIONS ON 
Hirundo is to be seen first of any, and gives great reason to 
suppose that they do not leave their wild haunts at all, but 
are secreted amidst the clefts and caverns of those abrupt 
cliffs where they usually spend their summers. 
The late severe weather considered, it is not very pro- 
bable that these birds should have migrated so early from a 
tropical region, through all these cutting winds and pinching 
frosts ; but it is easy to suppose that they may, like bats 
and flies, have been awakened by the influence of tho sun, 
amidst their secret latebrce, where they have spent the un- 
comfortable foodless months in a torpid state, and the pro- 
foundest of slumbers. 
There is a large pond at Wish-hanger, which induces 
these sand martins to frequent that district. For I have 
ever remarked that they haunt near great waters^ either 
rivers or lakes. ^ 
SWALLOWS CONGEEGATING AND DISAPPEARING. 
During the severe winds that often prevail late in the 
* Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this very ingenious 
naturalist favours the opinion that part at least of the swallow tribe pass 
their winter in a torpid state, in the same manner as bats and flies, and 
revive again on the approach of spring. 
I have frequently taken notice of all those circumstances which in- 
duced Mr. White to suppose that some of the Hirundines lie torpid 
during winter. I have seen, so late as NTovember, on a finer day than 
usual at that season of the year, two or three swallows flying backwards 
and forwards under a warm hedge, or on the sunny side of some old 
building ; nay, I once saw, on the 8th of December, two martins flying 
about very briskly, the weather being mild. I had not seen any con- 
siderable number either of swallows or martins for a considerable time 
before ; from whence then could these few bhds come, if not from some 
hole or cavern where they had laid themselves up for the winter? 
Surely it will not be asserted that these birds migrate back again from 
some distant tropical region, merely on the appearance of a fine day or 
two at this late season of the year. Again, very early in the spring, 
and sometimes immediately after very cold severe weather, on its growing 
a little warmer, a few of these birds suddenly make their appearance, 
long before the generality of them are seen. These appearances certainly 
favour the opinion of their passing the winter in a torpid state, but do 
not absolutely prove the fact ; for who ever saw them revivmg of their 
own accord from their torpid state, without being fiirst brought to the 
fire, and, as it were, forced into life again ; soon after which revivifica- 
tion they constantly die. — Markwick. 
