‘95 
OF Birds. 
It is fuither objected that the mflaaces adduced arc very 
few, and moll of them grounded upon hearfav.—Tbatif this 
really were the fa£l, they would often be taken in nets by 
fifhermen, and the proofs be notorious, from the frequent 
experience and teflimony of Tailors, travellers, fowlers, and 
rallies. That as their collefling together is a circumftancc 
of genera! obfcrvation, fo their aflual imtnerfion, and emcr- 
hon, mull have been frequently feen, if it really exilled. 
It has been publickly advertized in Germany, to any per- 
fon, who in the winter fhould produce Swallows, taken out 
of water, in this torpid Rate, to recompenfe them, by pay¬ 
ing them the weight of the Swallows fo found in money. 
Many literary ebaraflers, and perfons of diftinftion, wh® 
were difpofed to believe this circumftance, have promife'd t® 
endeavour to furmfla additional proofs to Mr. Reaumur, and 
Count Buffon, but have not done it. 
It is contended, that the analogy between Swallows, and 
amphibious animals, does not flriflly apply, as the lad are 
anatomically different ; that having only one auricle, and 
©ne ventricie, and cold blood, their ftruflure is calculated i» 
admit of their breathing arbitrarily, or at diflant intervals, 
whereas there is no fucb contrivance in Swallows. And that 
very ingenious anatomill, Mr. John Hunter, has diffebled 
many Swallows, but found nothing in their organs of rcfpi- 
ration different from other birds. It is contended too, that 
lizards and frogs, which do fleep during winter, do breathe 
in their torpid (late, consequently that the notion that ter- 
refirial animals can remain long under water, without drown- 
ing, feems unfounded on obfcrvation, and improbable. 
'Ihe authors of the Italian Ornithology, and Count Buffon, 
have made the experiment of plunging Swallows under wa¬ 
ter, and they died. 
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Caunt 
