SWA 
Vnough to affert as fad what has the ftrongeft ap- 
pearance of impoffibility; we mean, the relation 
of Swallows pafling the winter under ice, at the 
bottoms of lakes, or lodged beneath the water of 
the fea at the foot of rocks. The firft who ftarted 
this romantic idea, was Olaus Magnus, archbifliop 
of Upfal, who gravely informs us, that thefe birds 
are often found in cluftered maffes at the bottoms 
of the Northern lakes, mouth to mouth, wing to 
wing, and foot to foot; and that in autumn they 
creep down the reeds to thefe fubaqueous retreats : 
that when old ftlhermen lay hold of fuch a mafs, 
they throw it again into the water; but when 
young inexperienced fifhers perceive one,, they 
place it near the fire; which indeed brings the ani- 
mals to the ufe of their wings, but continues for 
a very fhort time, owing to a premature and forced 
reviv^al. 
To prevent an implicit aflent to an authority 
apparently fo refpe£table, let it be remarked, that 
our pious bifhop does not feem deftitute of faith; 
for, after having ftocked the bottoms of the lakes 
■with birds, he (lores the clouds with mice, which 
fometimes fall in plentiful fliowers in Norway, as 
well as the neighbouring countries. 
Some of our countrymen have given credit to 
the fubmerfion of Swallows; and Klein, who 
ftrongly patronizes the doflrine, gives us the fol- 
lowing hiftory of their manner of retiring, which 
he learned from fome countrymen. They aflerted, 
that Swallows fometimes aflembled in numbers on 
a fingle reed, till it broke, and funk with them to 
the bottom ; and that their immerfion was preluded 
by a dirge of a quarter of an hour's length : that 
fome would unite in laying hold of a ftraw with 
their bills, and fo plunge down in conjun6lion; 
and that others would form a large mafs, by cling- 
ins: together with their feet, and fo commit them- 
felves to the deep. 
Such are thfe relations of thofe who are attached 
to this opinion ; and though their own proofs are 
fairly ftated, the account can fcarcely fail of hav- 
ing a rifible efFeft. The advocates for the im- 
merfion of Swallows affign not the fmalleft reafon 
that can account for their being able to endure fo 
long a continuance under water, without beieg 
fufFocated, or decaying, in an element fo unnatu- 
ral to birds of fuch a delicate frame. It is well 
known that the otter, the cormorant, and the 
grebes, foon perifh, if caught under ice, or en- 
tangled in nets: how then is it poffible that the 
Swallow, a bird which nature has in no refpecl 
adapted for an aquatic life, fnould be able to con- 
tinue for months under water? and what vivifying 
principle can again recal it to exiftence ? 
Swallow, Common, called alfo the Houfe or 
Chimney Sv/allow; the Hirundo Ruftica of Lin- 
nseus. This fpccies is diftinguiflied from all 
others by the extreme forkinefs of it's tail, and a 
red fpot on the forehead and under the chin. The 
crown of the head, the upper part of the body, 
and the coverts of the wings, are black, glofled 
with a rich purplifh blue. The breaft and belly 
are v/hite, tinged with red. The tail is black; 
and the two middle feathers are plain, the others 
being tranfverfely marked with a white fpot near 
their extremities. The tongue is fliort, broad, 
and yeliowifli ; of which colour likewife is the pa- 
late; but the other parts of the mouth are black- 
ilh. The eyes are large ; and the irides are hazel- 
coloured. 
This bird builds it's neft: on the tops of chim- 
hies with great induflry and art; and lays fiv'e rir 
fix white eggs, fpeckled With red. It Ibmetimes 
breeds twice a year : this happens whbtl the parent 
birds arrive early, which is always regulated by 
the mildnefsof the feafon. Sometimes, however; 
it finds a difficulty in rearing even a fingle ne(l, 
efpecially when the weather has been fevere, or 
the neft has met with any accident. 
The Common Swallow arrives in Great Britain 
about twenty days before the other fpecies of the 
fame genus which vifits us; and it leaves us about 
the latter end of September. It has a pleafing 
note, which it puts forth in Auguft and Septem- 
ber, perching on the tops of houfes. 
Swallow, Chinese; the Hirundo Efculenta. 
of Tinnsus. This bird refembles the commou 
Swallow in fiiape; and during the feafon of incu- 
bation quits the inland parts of the country, and 
proceeds to the fea-fide, where it builds a very ex- 
traordinary kind of neft, reckoned one of the moft 
delicious viands in China. Thefe nefts, which 
are fometimes preferved after the manner of fweet- 
meats, and fent over to Europe as great curiofi- 
ties, are compoled of certain clammy, glutinous 
fubftances, colleded from the furface of the fea; 
in which the Swallow lays it's eggs, and produces 
it's young. 
We have no particular defcription of thofe 
birds; but the Chinefe carry on a confiderable 
trade with their nefts in many parts of the Eaft 
Indies. They are each about the fize of a goofe 
egg; and of a fubftance refembling ifinglafs. Ic 
is cuftomary to diffolve one of them in broth, 
when it conftitutes a fauce preferable to any that 
can be produced. 
Swallow, American ; the Hirundo Ameri- 
cana of Linnaeus. According to Cateft^y, the top 
of the thr-oat of this fpecies is of a brownifh black 
colour; and the extremities of the tail-feathers are 
pointed. 
Thefe birds quit Virginia and Carolina, and 
return about the fame feafon of the year as the 
Englilh Swallows. Cateftjy fuppofes that the^ 
pafs to the fouthern regions on the approach of 
winter; and that they are properly denominated 
Brazilian Swallows. 
Swallow, Sea; the Hirundo Marina, or Pra- 
tincola, of Linnseus. This is a large fpecies. 
The belly is entirely white; the head and back are 
of a dufky brown hue; the wings and tail are lono- 
and blackifli, but a little brownifti underneath; 
and the tail is forked. The beak is black and 
ftrong; and the mouth is very wide, and red 
within. A black line forms a kind of ring round 
the throat, paflmg by the eyes to the cars; and 
the legs are of a reddifli lead-colour. 
Swallow, Sea, is alfo an appellation by which 
fome authors exprefs the Sterna Hirundo of Lin-^ 
nseus. 
SWALLOW, WATER. An appellation 
given by fome ornithologifts, though improperly, 
to the northern colymbus, more generally deno- 
minated the lumme. 
SWALLOW-FISH. A marine fifti of the 
trigla kind, remarkable for the fize of it's gilJ- 
fins. In Cornwall it obtains the appellation of 
thetub-fifh. See Sapphirine Gurnard. 
SWALLOW -FLY. An appellation by which 
fome authors exprefs the chelidonus, a fly very 
remarkable for the long continuance and rapidity 
of it's flight. 
SWAN. A fpecies of the anas or duck kind 
in 
