[ 293 3 
point to point, endeavour always to have the wind 
againft them *, as is periodically experienced by the 
London bird-catchers, in March and October, when 
they lay their nets for finging birds -f. 
Thereafon, probably, for birds thus flying againft 
the wind is, that their plumage may not be ruffied 3 
which indeed I have before had occafion to mention. 
Let us fuppofe, then, a fwallow to be equal to a 
paflage acrofs the Atlantic in other refpedts ; how is 
the bird to be infured of the wind’s continuing for 
days in the fame quarter ; or how is he to depend 
upon its continuing to blow againft his flight with 
moderation ? for who can fuppofe that a fwallow can 
make his way to the point of direction, when buf- 
feted by a ftorm blowing in the teeth of his intended 
paffage £ ? 
Laftly, can it be conceived that thefe, or any 
other birds, can be impelled by a providential in» 
ftindt, regularly to attempt what feems to be at- 
tended with fuch infuperable difficulties, and what 
moft frequently leads to certain deftru&ion ? 
But it will ffill be objected, that as fwallows re- 
gularly appear and difappear at certain feafons, it is 
incumbent upon thofe who deny their migration, to > 
*' Kalm, in his voyage to America, makes the fame obferva- 
ti-on , with regard to flying ftfti, and Valentine fays, that if 
the wind doss not continue to blow againft the bird of paradife, 
it immediately drops to the ground. 
f Thefe birds, as it fhould feem, are then in motion ; be- 
caufe, at thofe feafons, the ground is plowed either for the winter 
or lent corn. 
'£■ I have myfelf attended to fwallows during a high wind, 
and have obferved that they fly only in ftieltered places, whilft 
• they alrnoft touch the furface of the ground. 
