xvili INTRODUCTION, 
fa£ts, moft of which have been taken from the obfervations of 
navigators who have been eye-witneffes of their flights, and 
whofe fhips have fometimes afforded a refting-place to the 
weary travellers. 
To the many on record we fliall add the following, which 
we received from a very fenflble mafter of a veflel, who, whilft 
he was failing early in the fpring between the iflands of Minor- 
ca and Majorca, faw great numbers of Swallows flying north- 
ward, many of whom alighted on the rigging of the fhip in 
the evening, but difappeared before morning. After all our in- 
quiries into this branch of natural oeconomy, much yet remains 
to be known, and we may conclude, in the words of the inge- 
nious Mr White, “ that whilfl: we obferve with delight with 
* c how much ardour and pun&uality thofe little birds obey 
t{ the flrong impulfe towards migration or hiding, imprinted 
66 on their minds by their great Creator, it is with no fmall de- 
4< gree of mortification that we refledf, that after all our pains 
and inquiries, we are not yet quite certain to what regions 
€C they do migrate, and are ftill farther embarrafied to find that 
S( fome do not a&ually migrate at all. 
“ Amufive birds ! fay where your hid retreae, 
“ When the froft rages, and the tempefts beat ; 
“ Whence your return, by fuch nice inftintSl led, 
“ When Spring, fweet feafon, lifts her bloomy head ? 
“ Such baffled fearches mock man’s prying pride, 
“ The GOD of NATURE is your fecret guide!” 
Moft birds, at certain feafons, live together in pairs 5 the 
union is formed in the fpring, and generally continues whilft 
the united efforts of both are neceffary in forming their tem- 
porary habitations, and in rearing and maintaining their off- 
fpring. Eagles and other birds of prey continue their attach- 
ment for a much longer time, and fometimes for life. The 
uefts of birds are conftru&ed with fuch exquifite art, as to ex- 
ceed the utmoft exertion of human ingenuity to imitate them. 
Their mode of building, the materials they make ufe of, as well 
as the fituations they fele& ? arc as various as the different kinds 
