SWALLOWS. 
245 
remove a large heap of manure, that had remained undis- 
turbed for a great length of time, perceived a hole, which 
was supposed to have been made by rats ; it penetrated to 
a great depth, but at its termination, instead of rats, three 
Corncrakes were discovered, as if placed there with the 
greatest care, not a feather being out of its place, and 
apparently lifeless. The birds, on examination, were, how- 
ever, considered to be in a torpid state, and were placed 
near a fire in a warm room. In the course of a short time 
a tremulous motion was observed in one of their legs, and 
soon after a similar motion was noticed in the legs and 
wings of the whole, which at length extended itself to their 
whole bodies, and, finally, the birds were enabled to run and 
fly about the room. # 
Humming-birds also, we are assured, are sometimes over- 
taken by cold, and have been known to fall into a torpid 
state. f 
It has been argued, that as some animals, such as the 
bear, dormouse, &c., are subject to long seasons of torpidity, 
during which time they require no food, Swallows may, in 
like manner, continue in a torpid slumbering state through- 
out the Winter. A few experiments, carefully attended to, 
might throw additional light upon the subject. If Swallows, 
for instance, were exposed to cold, at or near the freezing- 
point, sleep might overcome them, just as it does travellers 
who have been accidentally exposed to the inclemency of the 
weather : on becoming benumbed, we know that drowsiness 
commences, which, if not shaken off by active exertion, 
inevitably ends in death. If man is subject to this effect, as 
well as some animals, why may not Swallows P Two of 
these birds were, a Summer or two ago, caught, and placed for 
twenty-four hours in a cage suspended in an ice-house ; at the 
expiration of this time, one was found dead, but the other 
was alive, and when released, flew away in perfect vigour. 
In this case, therefore, nothing was learned from the ex- 
periment. But the constitution of the bird may be different 
* Ed. Journ., vol. viii. 
t Phil . Mag., vol. xxiL 
