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XXXIII. Of the torpidity <?/ Swallows and Martins. By 
James Cornilh, Surgeon^ at Totnefs, Devonlhire, in 
Jundry Letters to the Honourable Dames Barrington, 
F. R. S, and Dr, Maty, R, S, 
LETTER L 
TO DR. M A T Y> 
s I R, Totnefs, Feb. 3,1775. 
Redcie, May 25, ^ 5 it lias loiig been a defideratum among 
1775* Jf\^ naturalifts to decide, with cer- 
tainty, whether fwallows and martins remain in a torpid 
Hate during the winter, or are birds of paflage; I 111 all 
make no apology for troubling you with this letter, as 
it determines one part of the queftion, as I imagine, 
beyond doubt. In the beginning of November, being 
hilling on the banks of the river Dart, which runs at 
the bottom of a very fteep hill, from the lide of which 
project fever al large rocks, overgrown with ivy and 
thicket; I was at once furprized with the light of a great 
number of martins. Now the feafon of the year being 
fo advanced, I dehfted from my amufement, that I might 
the more carefully obferve the birds, which, I concluded, 
VoL, LXV. A a a had 
