{ 2 9 + ] 
fhew what becomes of them in Europe during our 
winter. 
Though it might be anfwered, that it is not ne- 
cefiary, thofe who endeavour to (hew the impoffi- 
bility of another fydem or hypothefis, diould from 
thence be obliged to fet up one of their own ; yet I 
fhall, without any difficulty, fay, that I at leaft am 
convinced fwallows (and perhaps fome other birds) 
are torpid during the winter. 
I have not, I mud own, myfelf ever feen them in 
this date ; but, having heard indances of their being 
thus found, from others of undoubted veracity, I 
have not fcarcely the lead doubt with regard to this 
point. 
It is, indeed, rather difficult to conceive why 
fome ornithologids continue to withhold their aflents 
to fuch a cloud of witnefies, except that it perhaps 
contradicts a favourite hypothefis which they have 
already maintained. 
Why is it more extraordinary that fwallows fhould 
be torpid during the winter, than that bats are found 
in this date, and fo many infeCts, which are the food 
of fwallows ? 
JBut it may be faid, that as the fwallows have 
crowded the air during the dimmer, in every part 
of Europe fince the creation, and as regularly dif- 
appear in winter, why have not the indances of their 
being found in a torpid date been more frequent ? 
To this it may be anfwered, that though our 
globe may have been formed fo many centuries, yet 
the inhabitants of it have fcarcely paid any attention 
to the dudy of natural hidory, but within thefe late 
years. 
As 
