1804.1 
Brown, of Philadelphia, who has been 
long known to the public as a re{pedctable 
and elegant writer. The fame defire to 
pleafe the public, and the fame capacity 
to ‘full thar deGre, which the editor of 
this publication had been accuftomed to 
exhibit in his former writings, is (tll to be 
fuliy perceived in the conduét of this mif- 
cellany ; and althovgh periodical publi- 
cations of this kind have not generally fuc- 
ceeded well in America, we are inclined 
to believe this will do better than its pre- 
deceffors. 
A new periodical publication was be- 
gun at Bolton, in November laft, under 
the title of “© The Monthly Anthology.” 
Six numbers have made*their appearance, 
which feem to be executed in a decent and 
reputable manner. A {mall portion of the 
work is afligned tothe review of new pub- 
lications ; but this department ts too thort 
to be fatisfa&ory. - 
EDUCATION. 
The Rev. Mr. ABERCROMBIE’S. 
“© Two Compends for the ufe of the Phi- 
ladelphia Academy ;’—xft, of Elocution ; 
—2d, of Natural Hiftory, are executed in 
a manner which refle&ts credit on the 
writer. Mr, Abererombie has for fome 
time paft heen engaged as the inftruftor of 
youth, and in that capacity has the repu- 
tation of having acquitted himfelf in a very 
ufeful and honourable manner. In pro- 
fecution of the plan of education which he 
has thought proper to adopt, the Compen- 
diums now referred to were written. In 
the endeavour to reduce the fulbjects treated 
of i: to a goncifeand fy{tematic order, Mr. 
Abercrombie has availed himfelf of what 
has been written on thefe fubjeéts by many 
excellent writers; without, however yield. 
ing the right of thinking for himfelf, or 
forfeiting the claim to a confiderable de- 
gree of originality. 
Sete aS ceed 
| To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
THANE you for announcing in your 
laft Magazine my enquiries relative 
to the Britifh birundines ; but as many of 
your readers may be at a lofs to compre- 
hend my precife object, I beg leave to 
Jay the fubfequent ftatement betore them. 
About the beginning of April Jaft, I 
folicited the correfpondence of naturalifts 
in every part of the kingdom, on the ap- 
pearance of the {wallow tribe in their re- 
{peétive neighbourhoods, in order, if pof- - 
ible, to afcertain whether they-migrated, 
Montuty Mac, No. 119. 
Dr. Mavor on Hirundines. 
7 125 
or remained torpid with us during wines 
ter. 
It fruck me, that, if they fhould be 
generally feen in the maritime counties 
before they were noticed in the interlor 
parts of this ifland, it would be a plaufible 
argument at leaft for the hypothefis of 
their migration ; on the contrary, if they 
appeared as early inland, as on the fea 
coaft, it would be a prefumptive evidence 
of their lying torpid in the neareft conve- 
nient retreats to the place where they 
breed, fince it muft require fome time to 
reach the interior, on the fuppofition that 
they came from the Continent. ; 
Though my ideas were communicated. 
through the medium of a fingle newfoaper 
only, I have to acknowledge, with gra- 
titude, the receipt of feveral very valuable 
remarks and obfervations on the fubjeéct 
of the birundines, from perfons of high 
attainments in the delightful fudy of na- 
ture; and Iam more and more convinced, 
that a mafs of faéts may ftill be produced. 
from the co-operation of numbers, which, 
if it does not amount to decilive evidence 
on this interefting, but myferious, fub- 
ject, will at lealt remove fome obfcurities 
in which it has for ages been involved. 
I therefore moft refpectfully mtveat my 
former obliging and intelligent correfpon- 
dents to continue their remarks, and to 
favour me with any further well-authen- 
ticated obfervations, on the time and man- 
ner of the appearance, difappearance, and. 
peculiar Aabits of the Britith birandines, 
diftinguifhing each fpecies vefpectively 5 
and I troft, trom the extenfive circulation 
of your Magazine, and its being fo gene- 
rally patronized by men of feience, that 
I thall obtain a new acceifion of correfpon- 
dents from this addrefs, to which I have 
no doubt you will be happy to give pubs 
licity. 
Communications, poft-paid, on the fubs 
jecis referred to, in which all naturalif's 
muft feel a mutual irtereft, will receive. 
the moft refpectful attention; and due 
acknowledgments will be made to each 
obliging contributor, as foon as I find 
mylelf enabled to lay any fatisfaétory rea 
fults before the public. Iam, Sir, 
Woodfock, Your's, 6c. 
Augufi 10,1804. WiLLiamM Mayor. 
P. S. I would earneftly recommend it to 
naturalifts to watch the congregating and dij* 
appearance of the different tpecies of fwal~ 
lows this approaching autumn; and, in pare 
ticular to obferve, towards what quarter they 
direct wheir flighe, 
Te 
§ 
