AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
225 
accomplish such undertakings; further, it is not alto- 
gether so wonderful that swallows should be able to 
reach distant countries, because they not only fly 
with amazing speed, but are able to continue a great 
length of time on the wing; but the case is very different 
with a variety of other migratory birds, which are ill-cal- 
culated for long flights, which are never seen on their 
journey, but which, however, reach their places of des- 
tination. 
The swallow tribe visits us in spring, and, with their 
progeny, quit the country on the approach of winter, 
when their food is no longer to be found. That they tra- 
verse the ocean is an incontestible fact, as many naviga- 
tors have been eye witnesses of their flights, and whose 
ships have sometimes afforded them resting places on 
their toilsome journey. Yet, there are not wanting wri- 
ters, who assert that swallows do not quit this country; 
but that they lie concealed, and in a torpid state, during 
winter, under water; that the martins hide themselves 
during the same period in crevices of rocks, and other 
lurking places above ground; that the sand martins re- 
main in the holes in which they formed their nests; and 
that the swifts continue all winter in their holes in churches 
and buildings. It is very probable that some of the later 
hatches, not able to undertake the long journey, may 
have been found in crevices and holes rather later than 
the general migration, but that they must shortly perish 
is beyond a doubt: while nothing can be more ridiculous 
than to suppose the chimney swallow buries itself beneath 
the flood, where it continues for six or seven months! 
Such opinions, ushered into the world through the me- 
dium of the press, induced the late celebrated Mr. John 
Hunter to examine the subject anatomically; and on dis- 
secting several swallows, he observed in them nothing 
differing from other birds in the organs of respiration; and 
concluded, without the least hesitation, that nothing could 
be more absurd than to suppose they could remain for a 
long time under water. 
However, from the very formation and habits of the 
swallow tribe, it requires little or no stretch of credulity 
to believe them capable of crossing the sea from one coun- 
try to another. The woodcock also, it must be admitted, 
crosses the ocean: this bird certainly does not appear so 
admirably calculated for a long flight as the swallow, yet 
it possesses a considerable extent of wing; and though ap- 
parently so sluggish when flushed by the sportsman, little 
doubt can be entertained that it is sufficiently active and 
strong in flight to transport itself to very considerable dis- 
tances. The woodcock does not see well in the broad 
glare of daylight, and at this period reluctantly takes 
wing; but every sportsman must be very well aware how 
L L 1 
much more active this bird rises in the dusk of the even- 
ing. They cross the sea in the night, as the circumstance 
of their frequently striking against light-houses sufficiently 
testifies; and in stormy weather, it is veiy well known, 
numbers of them perish in the adventurous journey. 
The quail is also a bird of passage, though it is not 
easy to imagine how a bird so ill calculated for extensive 
locomotion is able to effect those long journies which ap- 
pear indispensable to its habits. Quails are not gene- 
ral in England; but they visit some parts of it in 
the month of April, and leave it in September; and 
are supposed to winter in Africa. These birds, like the 
woodcock, prefer travelling in the night, and arrive at 
Alexandria in immense numbers: such prodigious quanti- 
ties have also appeared on the western coast of the king- 
dom of Naples, that a hundred thousand have been caught 
in one day. In some parts of the south of Russia, they 
abound so greatly at the time of their migration, that they 
are caught by thousands and sent in casks to Moscow and 
St. Petersburgh. We are told, that quails assemble at 
the approach of autumn, to cross the Black Sea over to the 
southern coast: the order of this emigration is invariable: 
towards the end of August, the quails, in a body, choose 
one of those fine days, when the wind, blowing from the 
north at sunset, promises them a fine night. They take 
their departure about seven in the evening, and finish a 
journey of fifty leagues by break of day — a wonderful dis- 
tance for a short winged bird, which is generally fat too, 
and sluggish of flight! Pliny says, quails ballast them- 
selves in their sea voyages by carrying stones in their 
feet, or sand in their craw! If such an absurdity were 
swallowed by the ancient Romans, few will be found 
weak enough to believe it at the present day. 
Now, we may certainly very readily admit the migra- 
tion to other countries of the swallow, the woodcock, and 
the quail, from the incontestible authority which has been 
already recited; while the passage of various other birds, 
possessed of great power of wing, is equally placed beyond 
a doubt; but, how are we to account for the very extensive 
excursions of those birds, which appear by no means cal- 
culated for such undertakings, but whose invariable peri- 
odical visits, nevertheless, confirm the fact, though per- 
haps the means or the mode by which it is accomplished 
will remain for ever perhaps buried beneath impenetrable 
obscurity: for instance, how are we to suppose the corn 
crake, which flies with the utmost difficulty even for a 
few hundred yards, is able to cross an extent of ocean, 
which, upon the lowest estimate, must be one hundred 
times farther than the utmost efforts of its wing can carry 
it in this country? 
Scarcity of food, and the want of a convenient situation 
