<^ 


'^ 


V     ^%.     ▼^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


I      I    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


^ 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


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Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


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Ppa,e.a*co.„*e.,.acH.«e,oup„u*,. 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


D 
D 
D 

D 


Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit6  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

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obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28X 


D 

32X 


tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
mage 


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g6n6rositd  do: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6td  reproduites  avec  le 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
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plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


rrata 
to 


peiure, 
id 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

u_^i^uiijiMMm<*mmSt'Jtmvmi»*tmn:''M>iii-ai.-nmamti#Mnt^,. 


OBSERVATIONS 


ON  THE 


BRVMAL  RETREAT 


OT  THE 


SWALLOW; 


WITH 


A  COPIOVS  REFERENCE 

TO    PASSAGES    RELATING    TO    THIS    SUBJECT, 

IN  DIFFERENT  AUTHORS. 


■V 


BY 


THOMAS  FORMER,  F.L.S. 

Corresp.  Memb.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  at  Philadelphia,  &c.  &c.  Ac. 

AUTHOR  OF 

"  RESEARCHES  ABOUT  ATMOSPHERIC  PHAENOMENA, 
«  NOTES  TO  THE  DIOSEMEIA  OF  ^ATUS,"  &c.  &c. 


FIFTH  EDITION. 


LONDON: 

Printed  by  J.  Hoyet,  OrevlUe  Street ; 

FOR  THOMAS  AND  GEORGE  UNDERWOOD, 
S2,  FLEET  STREET. 


1817. 


^^ 


io 


A- 


^'y.^^ 


3I 


^ 


^ 


k 


k 


PREFACE 


TO  THE   FIFTH  EDITION. 


^ 


Since  the  publication  of  the  early  editions  of 
this  tract,  the  habits  and  manners  of  animals  have 
become  a  subject,  in  Natural  History,  of  peculiar 
interest,  from  the  discoveries  of  Drs.  Gall  and 
Spurzheim  of  Vienna,  respecting  the  connection 
found  to  exist  between  the  shape  of  the  cranium 
and  the  instinctive  propensities  of  the^  animal. 
The  head  of  a  swallow  in  this  respect  corresponds 
with  the  character  of  a  migratory  bird.  The 
whole  of  this  genus  is  endowed  with  an  organiza^ 
tion  which,  from  analogy,  we  should  infer  as 
being  capable  of  giving  it  a  great  power  of  local 
knowledge.  It  would  be  impossible  in  a  few 
sheets  to  enter  into  the  detail  of  this  extensive  and 
intricate  subject ;  but  the  reader  may  consult  the 
works  written  by  Gall  and  Spurzheim  jointly,  and 
published  at  Paris,  or  the  "  Physiognomical  System" 


1! 


^ 


of  Dr.  Spuizlieim,  published  in  London  in  IS\6*. 
The  circumstance  is  merely  mentioned  here,  as  it 
affords  additional  proof  of  the  migratory  nature  of 
the  swallow  tribe.  Indeed,  when  we  consider  the 
number  of  birds  of  different  genera  known  to  change 
their  habitations  across  the  seas,  it  seems  rather 
surprising  that  the  migration  of  the  swallow  should 
even  have  been  particularly  doubted.  The  an- 
cients, as  will  appear  in  the  following  pages, 
were  acquainted  with  it,  and  the  precise  origin 
of  the  contrary  opinion  seems  doubtful. 


•  According  to  the  new  discoveries,  there  is  a  systematic 
concspoiidence  between  the  character  and  the  brain  in  all 
Ivnowii  animals.  Among  birds,  for  example,  the  cuckoo  wants 
the  organ  of  attachment  to  its  offspring,  the  falcon  tribe  have 
the  organ  of  destructiveness,  &c.  &c.  and  so  on  of  other  species, 
according  to  their  character.  —  Vide  the  Physiog.  Syst.  of 
Dr.  Spuruhcim,  above  alluded  to. 


\> 


on  in  1816*. 
>d  here,  as  it 
:ory  nature  of 
consider  the 
wn  to  change 
seems  rather 
lallow  should 
d.  The  an- 
owing  pages, 
precise  origin 
tful. 

I  is  a  systematic 
he  brain  in  all 
he  cuckoo  wants 
alcon  tribe  have 
I  of  other  species, 
hysiog.   Syst.  of 


PREFACE. 


Natural  History  and  the  Sciences  were  not 
originally  pursued  by  philosophers  from  a  curio- 
sity to  acquire,  or  a  desire  to  disseminate,  the 
secret  laws  of  the  universe.  Man  is,  neverthe- 
less, an  inquisitive  animal,  and  seems,  by  his 
nature,  to  possess  a  restless  solicitude  about 
the  objects  with  which  he  is  surrounded,  and 
a  native  desire  of  increasing  his  knowledge  of 
things.  Who  can  reflect  on  the  extent  of  his 
memory,  of  his  faculty  of  imagination,  and  of 
his  power  of  communicating  thought,  and  not 
suppose  man  constructed  to  enhance,  by  sys- 
tematic inquiry,  that  knowledge,  which,  to  a 
certain  degree,  must  be  the  necessary  result  of 
sensation?  And  who  can  contemplate  the 
variety  observable  in  the  intellectual  characters 
of  individuals,  and  not  suppose  that  human  pur- 
suits would  be  dissimilar,  and  that  original  varie- 
ties of  genius  as  well  as  accidental  circumstances 
pf  situation,  would  direct  human  efforts  to  the 

B 


i  • 


VI 


acquisition  of  various  species  of  knowleilge? 
But   we    cannot    suppose    that  the   different 
sciences  had  their  beginning  when  society  was 
organized  as  it  is  at  present:  when  from  the 
social  division  of  labour,  and  the  state  of  civi- 
lization, there  are  many  to  whom  the  conve- 
niences of  life  are  measured  without  toil,  and 
who  can  follow  their  inclination  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge ;  and  when  it  becomes   the  lot  of 
others  to  exercise  their  minds  only  for  a  means 
of  subsistence ;  for  the  arts  and  sciences  seem, 
in  a  measure,  necessary  to  social  improvement, 
and  appear  to  have  arisen,  from  time  to  time, 
out  of  the  wants  of  individuals,  and  to  have 
kept  pace  with  civilization. 

In  the  infancy  of  society,  it  is  probable  that 
men,  then  only  the  wild  inhabitants  of  forests 
and  woods,  employed  their  ken  to  discover  and 
procure  the  various  subjects  of  their  immediate 
wants;  and  natural  history  was  confined  to  a 
knowledge  of  such   animals   as   were   fit  for 
food,   and   to  be   procured    by    hunting  and 
fishing;  and  such  as  were  formidable,  and  to 
be  known,  that  they  might  be  avoided;  and 
to  whose  superior  strength  human  ingenuity 


i 


Til 


knowledge  ? 
he    different 
I  society  was 
en  from  the 
itate  of  civi- 
1  the  conve- 
out  toil,  and 
the  pursuit  of 
s   the   lot  of 
f  for  a  means 
iciences  seem, 
improvement, 
time  to  time, 
and  to  have 

probable  that 
ints  of  forests 

0  discover  and 
heir  immediate 

confined  to  a 

1  were   fit  for 
hunting  and 

nidable,  and  to 
:  avoided;  aod 
iman  ingenuity 


and  contrivance  were  to  be  opposed.  But  even 
in  a  more  cultivated  state  of  society,- among  the 
eastern  nations  of  shepherds  who  lived  wan> 
dering  through  verdant  pastures  with  their 
flocks,  to  dwell  wherever  fountains  poured  out 
water,  or  trees  afforded  shade,  science  was  still 
only  subservient  to  the  exigencies  of  nature, 
and  natural  history  cultivated  to  discover  and 
commemorate  the  useful  qualities  of  animals. 
Some  were  edible,  as  sheep,  goats,  and  many 
horned  cattle.  Others  useful  for  guards,  as  the 
dog,  who  protected  the  folds ;  or  the  ichneu- 
mon and  cat,  the  destroyers  of  rats  and  mice ; 
whose  troublesome  insults  engaged  men  in  the 
pursuit  of  a  more  perfect  acquaintance  with 
their  habits,  together  with  numerous  other 
tribes  of  noisome  animals  and  insects,  who 
invaded  the  dwellings  of  man,  and  interrupted 
his  enjoyment.  Many  animals  were  monitors, 
who,  by  their  appearance,  announced  the  im- 
pending change  of  seasons.  Tiius  the  unex- 
pected alterations  of  the  weather  were  predicted 
by  many  birds  and  insects :  and  the  garrulity  of 
the  crow  and  the  thrush ;  the  coming  forth  of 
worms  on  the  ground,  and  of  spiders  on  the  walls ; 


4 

1 


via 

the  clamorous  squalling  of  peacocks,  and  the  fre- 
quent immersions  of  water  fowl;  indicated  rain, 
and  warned  the  shepherd  and  agriculturalist  to 
prepare  for  bad  weather.     Nor  were  the  periodi- 
cal  returns  of  the  seasons  less  marked  by  many 
birds.     Such  was  the  crane  flying  the  wintry 
tempests  to  gain  more  tranquil  regions.    Such 
was  the  turtle  and  the  stork,  the  cuckoo  and 
the  nightingale;   and   the  swallow,   who   re- 
turning was  invariably  found  the  harbinger  of 
spring;  and  who,  by  an  association  of  ideas, 
by    which  most  human    affections    are  regu- 
lated, when  bestowed  on  trifling  objects,  was 
protected  from  injury,  and  received  a  supersti- 
tious respect,  as  being  the  companion  of  sum- 
mer, the  precursor  of  reviving  nature. 

The  Botany  of  the  early  ages  was  alike 
restricted  within  the  bounds  of  convenience 
with  appetite:  officinal  herbs  were  cultivated, 
and  the  best  fruits  selected  for  repast.  No 
traces  are  left  of  the  cultivation  even  of  beauti- 
ful flowers  among  the  antients,  unless  eatable, 
or  otherwise  useful.  The  fields  of  the  senex 
corycius  procured  him  the  riches  and  home- 
earned   security  so  praised  by  the  Mantuan 


,  and  the  fre- 
idicateil  rain, 
culturalist  to 
c  the  periodi- 
kcd  by  many 
g  the  wintry 
;gions.     Such 
iC  cuckoo  and 
ow,   who   re- 
e  harbinger  of 
tion  of  ideas, 
ons   are  regu- 
r  objects,  was 
ved  a  supersti- 
anion  of  sum- 
iture. 

,ges  v/as  alike 
»f  convenience 
ere  cultivated, 
3r  repast.  No 
even. of  beau ti- 
unless  eatable, 
Is  of  the  senex 
;hes  and  home- 
f  the  Mantuan 


11 

poet.  Tliere  is  little  love  of  benuty  discover- 
able  in  the  accounts  left  of  the  gardens  of 
Alcinous :  nor  is  botanical  science  to  be  found 
in  the  knowledge  of  Solomon,  who  knew 
every  herb,  from  the  cedar  of  Lebanon  to  the 
hyssop  which  groweth  on  the  wall. 

It  was  probably  long  after  society  was  com- 
pletely   formed,   when   many  felt  that  leisure 
which  is  caused  by  the  distribution  of  labour, 
that  the  minds  of  men,  ever  restless  and  de- 
sirous of  knowledge,  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
natural   history   for   its  own   sake.     Aristotle, 
Aelian,  Theophrastus,  and  Pliny,  lived  in  a  com- 
paratively advanced  state  of  civilization.    Such 
men    first   drew  forth   natural   history    from 
the  rude  bed  of  rural  oeconomy,  and  brought 
it  into  the  area  of  dawning  science,  cultivated 
only  in  detached  parts,  according  as  necessity 
had    engaged    attention    to  certain    animated 
beings.    Just   as   a   curious  boy   takes   out  a 
half  ripe  horse  chesnut  from  its  rough  pod, 
pyeballed  and  ripened  only  in  particular  places, 
to  be  matured  in  time  into  its  beautiful  uni- 
formity of  colour,  by  the  light  atmosphere  into 
which  it  is  brought. 


It  IS  hoped  that  in  time,  by  the  modern 
Arrangements  and  divisions  of  natural  history, 
and  the  number  of  cooperators  engaged  in  each 
department,  it  may  ultimately  acquire  the 
beauty  of  a  perfect  system. 

The  following  pages  relate  to  a  small  branch 
of  the  said  science,  and  contain  some  evidence 
on  the  question,  Whether  or  no  the  genus  hirundo 
is  migratory  ? 

At  first  sight  birds  engage  our  attention.    In 
the  beautiful  tints  of  their  plumage,  they  exhi- 
bit a  greater  diversity  of  lively  colours  than 
most  other  tribes  of  animals.     We  are  pleased 
with  the  different  melodies  of  their  songs.     In 
their  manners  and  habits  they  show  a  diversity 
of  character  correspondent  to  their  numerous 
dissimilar   figures;    and   they    are    perpetually 
before  our  eyes  while  in  pursuit  of  their  food. 

The  pleasure  arising  from  the  study  of 
natural  history,  has  its  source  in  the  endless 
variety  of  forms  exhibited  by  living  beings,  and 
in  the  energies  of  our  minds  exerted  when  we 
are  engaged  in  discovering  the  purposes  to  which 
each  is  adapted.  Birds  are  particularly  calculated 
to  afford  this  pleasure,  from   possessing  in  a 


XI 


the  modern 
tural  history, 
jaged  in  each 

acquire    the 

small  branch 
ome  evidence 
genus  hirumio 

ittention.    In 
ge,  they  exhi- 
colours  than 
Vg  are  pleased 
eir  songs.     In 
lOW  a  diversity 
beir  numerous 
re    perpetually 
of  their  food, 
the    study    of 
in  the  endless 
ing  beings,  and 
erted  when  we 
rposes  to  which 
[larly  calculated 
)ossessing  in  a 


great  degree  that  variety.  And  conformably 
we  find  they  have  most  engaged  the  attention 
of  mankind  in  past  ages,  before  subsequent 
/esearches  had  developed  the  great  sagacity  of 
insects,  and  had  facilitated  the  knowledge  of 
them,  and  rendered  them  interesting  by  sys- 
tematic arrangements,  and  a  delineation  of  their 
generic  and  specific  ciiaracters  *. 

Of  the  different  habits  of  birds  which  natu- 
ralists have  employed  themselves  to  investigate, 
their  local  habitation  or  places  of  residence 
have  been  always  a  principal  subject  of  their 
studies.    Some  remain  all   the  year  round  in 
one  part  of  the   world,    as  the  sparrow,  the 
rook,  the  magpie,  the  owl,  and  most  rapacious 
birds.    Others  change  their  habitations  in  the 
same  country,  in  quest  of  food,  and  shift  their 
quarters  without  travelling  to  any  great  dis- 
tance; as  the  wagtail  and  the  redbreast;  and 
the  wild  geese  and  ducks,  which  come  to  the 
southward  parts  of  our  island  at  the  approach  of 
winter.    Other  birds  cross  the  seas,  and  migrate 
to  far  distant  countries,  as  the  soland  goose,  the 

*  I  allude  particalarly  to  the  interesting  accounts  of  Hiiber 
ill  Bees,  and  on  Aut;. 


xu 


gannet,  the  blackcap,  the  cuckoo,  and  various 
other  kinds  of  land  and  water  fowl.  To  these 
latter  kinds  the  name  of  migratory  has  gene- 
rally been  applied*. 

British  migratory  birds  may  be  divided  into 
those  which  inhabit  our  island  in  the  winter 
time,  as  fieldfares,  woodcocks,  and  many  sea 
birds ;  and  those  which  coming  in  spring  spend 
the  summer  with  us,  as  the  cuckoo,  the  wry- 
neck, and  the  redstart:  whether  the  few  spe- 
cies of  swallow  which  visit  us  in  spring,  and 
retire  in  autumn,  are  of  this  sort,  or  whether 
tV-v  are  of  a  nature  quite  different,  and  become 
tc  .!.    during  winter,  is  the  question  discussed 
m    J-'se  s-cets.     The  suspicion  entertained  by 
ornithologists,  that  they  constituted  an  excep- 
tion to  the  general  mode  of  accounting  for  the 
annual  disappearance  and  reappearance  of  birds, 
must  have  been  found«:d  on  the  fact  of  their 
having  been  occasionally  discovered  in  a  state 
of  torpidity  ;  which  it  is  somewhat  surprising 
that  this  curious  circumstance  did  not  lead  to 

•  Some  bird«  which  are  stationary  in  one  country,  as  the 
kite  for  instance,  migrate  in  another,  as  the  same  bird  in 
Aegypt. 


xiu 


ind  various 

To  these 

has  gene- 

livided  into 
the  winter 

many  sea 
)ring  spend 
0,  the  wry- 
le  few  spe- 
spring,  and 
or  whether 
and  become 
n  discussed 
tertained  by 
1  an  excep- 
ting for  the 
nee  of  birds, 
act  of  their 
:d  in  a  state 
,t  surprising 

not  lead  to 

country,  as  the 
le  same  bitd  in 


an  earlier  knowledge  of  their  natural  history. 
The  more  antient  Greek  bards  seem  to  have 
considered  tlic  swallow  as  a  bird  of  passage ; 
while  the  Roman  natural  historians  regarded 
it  as  laying  torpid  through  the  winter.  It 
is  more  difficult  to  reconcile  their  opposite 
opinions  and  evidence,  by  supposition  that 
some  species  migrate,  and  others  lie  torpid, 
than  to  suppose  that  accidental  circumstances 
may  sometimes  caise  the  torpidity  of  individuals 
of  all.  The  Greek  word  xf>'iiuv,  and  the  Latin 
word  hirundo,  certainly  meant  the  swallow ;  but 
these  terms  do  not  define  the  species,  and  were 
probably  used  for  swallows  in  general ;  though 
in  some  instances  we  may,  by  the  description, 
discover  the  species  which  the  author  happened 
to  have  in  his  head  when  he  was  writing. 
There  are  several  species  of  swallow  known 
in  distant  parts  of  the  world,  which  are  un- 
known in  this  country  ;  but  the  British  species 
are  known  in  almost  all  countries. 

The  present  sheets  merely  exhibit  such  evi- 
dence from  antient  and  modern  writers  on  both 
sides    of  the  aforementioned    question,    as   1 


\^ 


XIV 

have  happened  to  collect,  and  such  arguments 
as  I  am  enabled  to  bring  forward  by  a  hasty 
examination   of  this  subject.    The  paper  was 
first   printed   in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eight,  and  has  lately  got  out  of 
print.    Since   its   former  publication,   I  have 
examined  several  persons  who  have  seen  swal- 
lows many   miles  out   at  *ea   in  spring  and 
autumn,  but  whose  accounts  have  not  been 
accurate  -nough  to  render  their  publication  of 
any   use    in  determining   this    question :    the 
narrators  did  not  notice  the  particular  species, 
and  their  accounts  are  only  alluded  to  as  afford- 
ing  corroboration  of  the  opinion  1  have  always 
entertained  of  the  migration  of  these    birds. 
This  paper  is  republished,  that  it  may  excite 
attention  to  the  subject,  and  may  excite  people 
to    bring    before   the    public    such   accounts, 
either  of  the  noticed  flights  of  swallows  at  sea, 
or  of  their  discovery  in  a  state  of  torpidity  in 
the  land,  as  may  at  present  be  only  known  to  Ji 
few  individuals. 


i  1; 


ill 


h  arguments 
i  by  a  hasty 
le  paper  was 
ausand  eight 
Y  got  out  of 
tion,   I  have 
ve  seen  swal- 
i  spring  and 
ve  not  been 
tublication  of 
uestion  :    the 
cular  species, 
d  to  as  afford'- 
I  have  always 
'  these   birds, 
t  may  excite 
excite  people 
ich   accounts, 
allows  at  sea, 
if  torpidity  in 
iy  known  to  n. 


OBSERVATIONS,  &c. 


Of  the  various  tribes  of  birds  wliich  inhabit 
Europe,  tliere   is,  perhaps,   no  one  which 
has  more  attracted  the  attention  of  natu-» 
ralists  than  llie  swallow ;    neither  is  there 
any  one  whose  natural  history  is  less  un- 
derstood.    These  birds  make  their  first  ap- 
pearance, in  Great  Britain,  early  in  spring; 
remain  with  us  during  summer,  and  disap- 
pear in  autumn.     The  four  species  which 
inhabit  this  island,  are  also  found,  during 
summer,  in  almost  every  other  region  in 
Europe  and  Asia,  where  their  manners  and 
habits  are  pretty  much   the  same   as   in 
this    country,    with   this    exception    only, 
that   they    make    their    first    appearance 
in  spring  somewhat  earlier  in   the  more 
southern  parts   of  the  Continent  than   in 
England 


Aim] 

,1 


k 


The  distinguishing  marks  of  this  genus 
.^xc: — bill  small ;  mouth  wide  ;  head  rather 
large  in  proportion  to  the  bulk  of  the  body, 
and  somewhat  flattish ;  neck  scarcely  vi- 
sil  ^e ;  tongue  short,  broad  and  cloven  ;  tail 
mostly  forked;  legs  short;  Avings  very 
long;  flight  rapid  and  continued.  All  birds 
of  this  genus  feed  upon  insects  which  they 
catch  in  flying. 

The  chimney  swallow,  hirundo  riistica*, 
is  the  most  common,  as  well  as  the  best 
known,  of  them  all ;  and  for  this  reason  is 
probably  classed  first  by  Linnaeus.  Its 
lensth  is  about  six  inches,  breadth  from 
tip  to  tip  of  the  wings,  when  extended, 
about  twelve.  Tlie  upper  parts  of  its  body 
and  wings  black ;  under  parts  whitish  ash- 
colour;  head  black;  forehead  and  chin 
marked  with  a  red  spot;  tail  very  much 
forked.  This  bird  generally  arrives  in  this 
country  somewhat  sooner  than  the  rest  of 
this  genus,  usually  making  its  first  appear- 
ance   before  the  middle  of  iVprilf.      It 

*  In  ventriculo  dissecto  Scaiabaeos  inuenimus.  In 
caminis  nidificat.  —  Rail  St/nop.  p.  71. 

t  The  swallows  of  every  species  are  few  on  their 
6rst  appearance;  afterwards  increase  in  numbers;  are 


iL 


■  this  genus 
head  rather 
of  the  body, 
scarcely  vi- 
cloven ;  tail 
Avings  very 
id.  All  birds 
»  which  they 

ido  rustica*, 
as  the  best 
his  reason  is 
nnaeus.  Its 
)readth  from 
sn  extended, 
ts  of  its  body 
I  whitish  ash- 
id  and  chin 
I  very  much 
rrives  in  this 
n  the  rest  of 
first  appear- 
Aprilf.     It 


i  inuenimus. 


In 


re  few  on  their 
in  numbers;  are 


builds  its  nest  in  chimnies,  at  the  distance 
of  about  a  foot  from  the  top,  or  under  the 
roofs  of  barns   and   outhouses,  has   com- 
monly two  broods  in  the  year,  and  gene- 
rally disappears  in  the  latter  end  of  Sep- 
tember, or  beginning  of  October.     Like  the 
rest  of  this  tribe,  it  ia  perpetually  on  the 
wing,   and    lives   upon    insects,    which'  it 
catches  flying.     Before  rain  it  may  ofteh 
be  seen  skinnning  round  the  edge  of  a  lake 
or  river,  and  not  unfrequently.  dipping  the 
tips  of  its  wings  or  under  part  of  its  body 
into  the  water,  as  it  passes  over  its  surface*. 

further  multiplied  by  the  accession  of  the  young 
broods ;  and  are  diminished  again  b  )re  they  wholly 
disappear. 

•  This  was  observed  by  many  of  the  antient  writer^ 
of  natural  history  and  philosophy.     So  Virgil : 
I         Nutnquatn  inprudtntibus  itnber 
Obfuit.    Aut  illuDi  surgentem  vallibus  imis 
Aeriae  fugfere  grues ;  aut  bucula,  coeluiu 
Suspiciens,  patulis  captauit  naribus  auras; 
Aut  arguta  lacus  circumuolitauit  hiruudo, 
Et  veterem  in  limo  ranae  cecinfere  querelam. 

Firg.  Geor.  lib.  i.  377. 

Which  iM  imitated  from  Aratus  : 

TIomJuh  Xi/ivauM  n  zlvaiKiou  ofvtflej 
"AvtKnroi  HXui:ovTM  iviB/Mvai  iJaTfiTird.' 


'II 


'H 


The  martin,  or  marllctr,  hirundo  vrbica^ 
is  rather  less  than  the  swallow,  and  is  dis- 
tinguishable at  first  sight  from  it,  hy  the 
brisht  white  colour  of  all  the  under  parts  of 
the  body.  This  bird  usually  makes  its  first 
appearance  early  in  May,  though  some- 
times sooner,  and  leaves  us  towards  the 
latter  end  of  October.  It  builds  under  the 
eaves  of  houses,  and  in  crags  of  rocks  and 
precipices  near  the  sea,  and  has  oftentimes 
three  broods  in  the  year;  its  nesl  is  curi- 
ously constructed,  like  that  of  the  swallow, 
with  nmd  and  straw,  and  lined  with  feather* 
on  the  inside*. 

'H  ^iVtv>!V  vipi  h6at  XE^'Sovsf  eua-trovlai 

Arat.Dios.  210. 

*  Hifundines  luto  (nidum)  construunt;  slramcnto 
roborant.  Si  quando  inopia  eat  luti,  madefactse  multa 
aqua,  pennis  puluerem  spargunt.  Ipsum  vero  nidum 
moilibus  plumis  flocoisque  consternunt  tepefaciendis 
ouis,  simul  ne  durus  sit  infantibus  pullis-  In  fcetu 
sumnia  sequitate  alternant  cibum.  Notabili  munditi^ 
egerunt  excrementa  puHoruu^,  adultioresq.  circumagi 
docent,  et  foris  saturitatem  emittere.  Alterum  genus 
hirundinum  est  rusticarum  et  agrestium,  quae  raro  in 
domibus,  diuersos  figura,  sed  e&dem  materiSi,  con- 
fingunt  nidos,  lotos    supinos,   faucibus   porrectis  in 


irundo  vrhica, 
w,  and  is  dis- 
)m  it,  hy  the 
under  parts  of 
makes  its  first 
though  some- 
towards  the 
lids  under  the 
s  of  rocks  and 
tias  oftentimes 
i  nest  is  curi- 
f  the  swallow, 
i  with  feathera 


rroviat 


It.  Dios.  210. 
ruunt ;  alramcnto 
madefactie  multa 
psum  vero  nidum 
unt  tepefaciendis 
pullis-  In  fcetu 
Notabili  tnunditi^ 
tioresq.  circumagi 
.  Alterum  genus 
ium,  quae  raro  in 
;m  materia,  con- 
ibus   porrectis  in 


The  swift,  hirundo  apitSf  is  the  largest  of 
ilie  genus,  being  seven  inches  in  length, 
and  nearly  eighteen  in  breadth,  when  its 
wings  are  extended  *.  It  is  of  a  sooty  black 
colour,  with  a  whitish  snot  on  its  breast. 
It  arrives  in  this  country  towards  the  middle 
of  May,  and  departs  about  the  middle  of 
Auwust'j-.     It  builds  in  holes  of  rocks;  in 

angustum,  vtero  capaci,  mirum  qua  peritia  et  occul- 
taiidis  habiles,  ct  substcrnendis  nioUes. — Pliti.  Hist. 
Nat.  lib.  X.  cap.  33. 

Sub  tectorum  suggrundiis  inque  fenestris  nidificat, 
non  in  caroinis,  nee  niduin  coiistruit  heinisphaericuni, 
et  superiorc  jvarte  totum  apertuin  vl  hir.  domestica, 
scd  ouatum,  supcrnc  tectum,  lotundo  tautuin  foraniine 
ad  lalus  lelicto,  per  quod  ipsa  intrat  ct  exit.— liaii 

fiynop.  p.  7 1  • 

*  Ob  alarum   longitudinem  et  brevitatem   pedum 
humo  aegr^  se  tollere  potest.— i?a«  Synop.  p.  72. 

t  It  is  remarkable,  that  most  countries  have  a  simi- 
lar proverb  relating  to  the  swallow's  accidental  appear- 
ance before  its  usual  time.  The  Greeks  have  M<'« 
XImJwv  «af  5 -sroiH ;  the  Latins,  Vna  hirundo  non  facit 
ver;  the  French,  Une  hirondelle  ne  fait  pas  les  prin- 
tems;  the  Germans,  Eine  schwalbe  macht  keinen 
frUling;  the  Dutch,  Een  swaluw  roaakt  geen  zomer; 
the  Swedes,  En  svaja  gbr  ingen  sommar  ;'  the  Spanish, 
Una  golondrina  no  hace  verano;  the  Italians,  Una 
londine  non  fa  primavera;  and  the  English,  One  snnl- 
low  doth  not  make  a  summer. 


ruined  towers,  and  under  llie  tiling  of 
houses.  It  has  only  one  brood  in  the 
year. 

The  bank  or  sand  martin,  hirundo  ripa- 
ria*y  is  the  smallest  of  I  he  genus,  and  is  of 
a  dusky  brown  eolour  above,  and  whitish 
benealh.  It  builds  its  nest  in  holes,  which 
it  bores  in  banks  of  sand,  and  is  said  to 
hav(;  only  one  brooil  in  the  year. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  subject  in  nalural 
history  which  has  more  engaged  the  atten- 
tion of  naturalists,  in  all  ages,  than  the 
brumal  retreat  of  the  swallow;  neither  is 
there  any  subject  on  which  more  various 
and  contrary  opinions  have  been  enter- 
tained. Some  have  supposed  that  they 
retire  at  the  approach  of  winter  to  the 
inmost  recesses  of  rocks  and  mountains, 
and  that  they  there  remain  in  a  torpid 
state  until  spring.  This  was  certainly  the 
opinion  of  Pliny,  who  says,  Aheunt  et 
hirundines  hybernis    mensibus ;    sola    came 

*  Ita  vocant  in  riparum  cauis  nidificantes. — Plw. 
lltst.  Nat.  lib.  XXX.  cap.  4. 

In  riparum  foraminibus  nidiBcat. — Rait  Synop. 
p.  72. 


-^gf^ggf^Lm^ 


e  tiling  of 
ood   in   the 

irundo  ripa- 
.IS,  and  is  of 
rind  wliitisli 
loles,  which 
1  is  said  to 

;  in  natural 
d  the  atten- 
s,  than  the 
;  neither  is 
ore  various 
aeen   enter- 
that    they 
nter  to  the 
mountains, 
in  a  torpid 
ertainly  tlic 
Abeunt   et 
sola    came 

antes. — Pliti. 
—Raii  S  If  nop. 


vescejis  auis  ex  lis  quae  aduncos  vngues  non 
habent ;  sed  in  vicina  abeunt,  apricos*  secutae 
montium  recessusy  inuentaeque  iam  sunt  ibi 
nudae  atqtie  deplumes.     Lib.  x.  cap.  24. 

But  notwitlistanding  that  we  have  the 
authority  of  so  learned,  though  at  the 
same  time  so  credulous,  a  naturalist  as 
Pliny,  it  seems  almost  absurd  to  suppose 
that  the  swallow  differs  so  much  in  its 
nature  from  other  birds,  as  we  do  not  find 
any  material  difference  either  in  its  external 
or  internal  formation.  Others  have  con- 
jectured that  these  birds  immerse  them- 
selves in  the  water  at  the  approach  of 
winter,  and  that  they  remain  at  the  bottom 
in  a  state  of  torpidity,  until  they  are 
again  called  forth  by  the  influence  of  the 
vernal  sun.  Linnaeus  was  probably  of 
this  opinion,  when  he  said,  hirundo  rustica 
habitat  in  Europae  domibus  intra   tectum^ 


•  Some  editions  have  Afrko%  instead  of  apricos. 
The  latter  however  is  certainly  the  best,  for  Pliny 
would  surely  have  applied  the  adjective  to  montium, 
and  not  to  recesms.  Thus  he  would  have  said,  Jjri- 
cormn  secutae  montium  recemts;  or  else,  Jfricae  montium 
tecutae  i-eccssus, 

C 


m 


9 

vnar/uc  cum,  vvbicA  autumno  demergituri 
vereqne  cmergil.  Bui  most  likoly  in  this, 
as  in  some  (cw  other  cancH,  he  gave  cre- 
dit to  the  fabulous  assertions  of  others, 
without  examining  into  the  trutli  of  them 
himself*.  There  are  several  instances  on 
record  of  their  Fiaving  been  found  in  such 
situations,  clustered  together  in  great  num- 
bers, and  that,  on  being  brouglit  before  the 
fire,  tliey  have  revived  and  flown  away. 
But,  unfortunately,  few  of  these  accouiils 
have  been  well  authenticated ;  and  liie 
celebrated  John  Hunter  has  clearly  proved, 
from  various  experiments  which  Ik;  him- 
self made,  that  thest;  birds  cannot  contume 
long  imder  water  without  being  drowned •[•. 
J  do  not  mean  to  deny  that  swallows, 
may  have  occasionally  been  found  under 
water ;  for  it  is  well  known  that  they  have; 

*  It  has  been  doubted  by  some,  whether  Linnaeus 
tncant  any  more,  by  demergitur  and  emergit,  than  that 
the  swallow  was  hid,  and  came  forth  again. 

t  The  experiments  of  Mr.  Pearson,  related  in 
Bewick's  Birds,  show,  I  think,  that  the  swallow  has 
no  great  propensity  to  become  torpid  in  winter,  unless 
operated  on  by  some  other  circum»tance  than  merely 
the-  time  of  the  year. 


j  I 


lipi     1    11^    WW 


tmm 


I  demergituVt 
likuiy  in  this« 
he  gave  ere- 
lis  of  others, 
mill  of  iheni 

inslances  on 
bund  in  such 
n  great  num* 
5IU  before  the 

flown  away, 
lese  accouiils 
;cl ;  and  llie 
learly  proved, 
lich  h(!  liim- 
inot  continue 
ig  drowned  I*, 
hat  swalloAvs. 
found  under 
at  they  have: 

whether  Linnaeus 

mergit,  than  that 

igain. 

son,   related    in 

the  swallow  has 

in  winter,  unless 

nee  than  merelj 


and  this  probably  has  given  rise  to  the 
absurd  notion  entertained  by  Honie,  that 
the  whole  of  the  species  winter  in  that 
element.  But  1  should  certainly  attribute 
their  being  found  in  such  situations  to 
mere  accident ;  and  I  think  it  might  have 
been  occasioned  by  some  such  circum- 
stance as  the  following: 

It  is  well  known  that,  towards  the  latter 
end  of  autumn,  swallows  frequently  roost 
by  the  sides  of  lakes  and  rivers* ;  we  will 
suppose,  therefore,  that  a  number  of  these 
birds  had  retired  to  roost  on  the  banks  of 
?ome  shallow  and  muddy  river  at  low  tide, 
and  that  they  had  been  induced  by  the 
cold  to  creep  among  the  reeds  or  rushes 
which  might  grow  in  the  shallow  parts  of 
the  river,  and  that  while  in  this  situation, 
driven  into  a  state  of  torpidity  by  the  cold, 
they  had  been  overwhelmed,  and  perhaps 
washed  into  the  current,  by  the  coming  in 
of  the  tidcf*. 

•  This  circumstance  may  have  contributed  to  in- 
duce some  to  believe  that  they  go  into  the  water. 

t  There  have  been  occasional  instances  of  other 
birds  besides  swallows  having  been  found  in  a  state  of 
torpor  during  winter.  I  think  I  recollect  a  cuckoo 
being  found  in  such  a  state. 


10 


i^ 


Having  thus  accounted  for  the  manner 
in  which  swallows  might  chance  to  get  into 
the  water,  it  remains  to  be  considered  by 
what  means  they  may  have  been  sometimes 
taken  out  alive.  Let  us  suppose,  therefore, 
that  some  fishermen,  as  is  very  likely  to  be 
the  case,  had  availed  themselves  of  the 
coming  in  of  the  tide  to  catch  fish,  and  that 
the  swallows,  which  we  have  before  sup- 
posed to  have  been  carried  into  the  current, 
coming  in  contact  Avith  their  nets,  were 
consequently  drawn  out  of  the  water  by 
them,  and,  not  having  been  long  under 
water,  were  not  completely  drowned. 

There  are  several  other  circumstances 
which  seem  to  favour  the  opinion,  that, 
these  birds  remain  concealed  during  winter 
in  this  country.  Among  others,  the  most 
striking  is,  that  swallows,  hirundines  rus- 
ticacy  as  well  as  martins,  hirundines  vrbicae^ 
have  sometimes  appeared  very  late  in  au- 
tumn, a  considerable  time  after  they  were 
-all  supposed  to  have  taken  their  departure*. 

♦  Of  this  we  have  several  instances :  Bewick,  in  his 
History  of  British  Birds,  Introduction,  p.  xvii.  takes 
notice  of  having  seen  a  straggling  swallow  so  late  as 
lUe    end  o{  October;   and    White,   in  bis   Natural 


3r  the  manner 
nee  to  get  into 

considered  by 
5een  sometimes 
pose,  therefore, 
jry  hkely  to  be 
n  selves  of  the 
h  fish,  and  that 
re  before  sup- 
ito  the  current, 
leir  nets,  were 
'  the  water  by 
:en  long  under 

drowned. 

circumstances 

opinion,  that. 
i  during  winter 
hers,  the  most 
hirundines  rus- 
undines  vrbicae^ 
ery  late  in  au- 
ifter  they  were 
leir  departure*. 


:e3 :  Bewick,  in  his 
tion,  p.  xvii.  takes 
swallow  so  late  as 
e,  in  bis  Natural 


_.)^!.-)l^iyi|ijnyiJll.ljtH^jHH.B»yW 


t^inififn,^f--m^V  '  ^ 


11 

Again,  as  I  have  before  had  occasion  to 
observe,  they  have  sometimes  been  taken 
out  of  the  water,  in  ^v^nte^,  in  a  torpid 
'State,  not  only  out  of  rivers,  but  also  out 
of  lakes  and  stagnant  pools,  and  even  out 
of  bogs*.  They  have  likewise  been  found 
concealed  in  the  crevices  of  rocks,  in  holes 
of  old  decayed  trees,  in  old  ruined  towers, 
and  under  the  thatch  of  houses f. 


History  of  Selborne,  mentions  having  seen  a  house 
martin  flying  about  in  the  month  of  November. 
Montagu,  in  the  Supp.  to  Orn.  Die.  mentions  having 
seen  many  swallows  and  martins  as  late  as  November  5, 
1805.  To  which  I  may  add,  that,  in  the  year  1804, 
I  saw  several,  both  martins  and  swallows,  flying  about 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  London,  as  late  as  October 
the  19ih.  I  have  since  frequently  seen  them  later 
than  that  time. 

*  For  further  particulars  relative  to  the  torpidity  of 
swallows,  see  Miscellanies  by  the  Hon.  Daines  Barring- 
ton,  page  225  and  sequel ;  also  Buffon,  Hist.  Nat.  des 
Oiaeaux,  4to.  Paris,  1780,  Plan  d'Ouvrage,  p.  xiii. 

t  A  great  many  sand  martins*  holes  have  been 
opened  in  winter,  and  nothing  has  been  found  in  them 
but  old  nests. — See  Phil.  Trans,  vol.  li.  p.  463. 

In  October,  1810,  I  opened  several  sand  martins' 
holes  near  Dorking  in  Surry,  and  found  in  one  of  them 
9.  variety  of  very  small  bony  substances,  which  might 
be  part  of  large  insects,  mixed  with  dirt. 


*♦»-     i^MHl  Vlf  i«l« 


5PP— ^ 


I    l^«_l-i^^nilL 


;s 


I 


12 

From  the  consideration  of  the  above  facts 
alone,  without  making  any  further  inquiry 
into  the  subject,  many  persons  have  con- 
cluded that  the  whole  tribe  always  winter 
in  similar  situations.  It  seems,  however, 
much  more  probable  that  those  birds, 
which  may  have  been  found  in  a  state 
of  torpidity,  as  above  described,  had,  owing 
to  some  accident,  been  hatched  later  in  the 
year  than  ordinary,  and  that  consequently 
they  had  not  acquired  sufficient  strength  to 
undergo  the  fatigue  of  a  long  journey  upon 
the  wing,  at  the  time  when  the  migration 
of  the  rest  of  their  species  took  place.  It 
is  very  probable  that  many  of  these,  in 
order  to  shelter  themselves  from  the  incle- 
mency of  the  weather,  may  have  retreated 
to  holes  of  rocks,  and  other  recesses,  where, 
from  cold  and  hunger,  they  may  have  sunk 
into  a  state  of  torpidity*.     Others,  for  the 

*  See  Montagu's  Ornithological  Dictionary,  under 
the  word  martin. 

It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  very  cold  and 
frosty  weather  in  spring,  may  sometimes  drive  the 
swallow,  just  arrived,  into  some  snug  retreat,  where  it 
may  remain  until  the  warm  weather  returns.— -See 
Phil.  2'rans.  vol.  Ixv.  p.  g39. 


•nmrn'mfv^W-"-- 


le  above  facts 
irther  inquiry 
ns  have  con- 
ilways  winter 
ms,  however, 

those  birds, 
1  in  a  state 
d,  had,  owing 
;d  later  in  the 
consequently 
Qt  strength  to 
journey  upon 
;he  migration 
ok  place.     It 

of  these,  in 
om  the  incle- 
lave  retreated 
cesses,  where, 
ay  have  sunk 
•thers,  for  the 

'ictionary,  under 

t  very  cold  and 
itimes  drive  the 
retreat,  where  it 
r  returns. — See 


18 

same  reason,  may  have  crept  among  tho 
weeds,  which  grow  by  the  sides  of  rivers 
and  ponds,  where  tlu^y  may  have  been 
overwhelmed  by  the  increase  of  the  water, 
occasioned  by  the  heavy  rains  which  often 
happen  towards  the  end  of  autumn,  and 
some,  which  may  not  have  been  long  im- 
mersed, may  probably  have  been  restored 
to  life,  when  brought  into  the  sunshine,  or 

before  a  fire. 

But  that  the  chief  part  of  each  species 
migrate,  is  so  well  established  by  a  multi- 
tude of  corresponding  tucts,  that  it  seems 
almost  an  absurdity  to  doubt  of  it.  In  the 
first  place  I  would  observe,  that  if  these 
birds  lay  concealed  in  winter,  in  the  same 
countries  which  Ihey  inhabit  in  summer, 
they  would  probably  make  their  first  ap- 
pearance in  spring,  in  mild  weather,  and 
would  appear  sooner  in  early  than  in  late 
seasons,  which  is  quite  contrary  to  expe- 
rience. '  For  several  years  past  I  have  ob- 
served that  chimney  swallows  have  appear- 
ed first  in  cold  weather.  I  have  sometimes 
seen  them  as  early  as  April  the  2d,  when 
the  mercury  in  the  thermometer  has  been 
below  the  freezing  point.     On  the  other 


i 


14 

hand,  I  have  often  taken  notice,  that 
during  a  continuance  of  mild  weather  for 
the  space  of  a  fortnight,  in  the  month  of 
April,  not  so  much  as  one  swallow  has 
appeared. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact,  that  the  swallow, 
hke  most  other  birds  of  passage,  appears 
earlier  and  departs  later  in  the  southern 
than  in  the  northern  parts  of  Great  Britain; 
and  it  must  have  been  observed,  by  every 
one  who  is  attentive  to  natural  history,  that 
towards  the  latter  end  of  Seijtember,  swal- 
lows, hirundines  rustivn'\  as  well  as  martins, 
hirtmdines  vrhicae,  congregate  in  great  num- 
bers, and  are  frequently  seen  sitting  on  the 
lops  of  houses,  and  on  rocks  near  the  sea. 
These  meetings  usually  conlmue  for  several 
days,  after  which  they  suddenly  disap- 
pear*. 

Swifts,  hirundines  apodes,  also  begin  to 
assemble  in  large  bodies  previous  to  their 
departure,  early  in  July:   their  numbers 


]i: 


mt 


*  Swallows  seldom  perch  on  trees,  except  in 
autumn,  shortly  previous  to  their  disappearance,  and 
they  then  choose  dead  trees  in  preference.  I  have 
known  them  sit  on  trees  earlier  in  summer,  when  the 
weather  has  been  very  cold. 


15 


notice,  that 
cl  weather  for 
the  month  of 
5  swallow  has 

it  the  swallow, 

ssage,  appears 

the   southern 

Great  Britain; 

ved,  by  every 

il  history,  that 

jtember,  swal- 

ell  as  martins, 

in  great  num- 

sitting  on  the 

near  the  sea. 

lue  for  several 

ddenly  disap- 

also  begin  to 
ivious  to  their 
;lieir  numbers 

trees,  except  in 
sappearance,  and 
2ference.  I  have 
immer,  when  the 


daily  increase,  and  they  soar  higher  in  the 
uir,  with  shriller  cries,  and  fly  dilferently 
from  their  usual  mode.  Such  meetings 
continue  till  towards  the  middle  of  August, 
after  which  they  are  seldom  seen. 

Sand  martins,  hirundines  ripariae,  like- 
wise liock  together  in  autumn.  Some  years 
ago  they  are  said  to  have  appeared  in  great 
numbers  in  London  and  its  neighbour- 
hood. 

From  all  the  abovementioned  circum- 
stances, as  well  as  from  the  great  length  of 
the  wings,  in  proportion  to  the  bulk  of  the 
body,  of  all  this  genus*,  it  must  appear  evi- 
dent that  swallows  are  birds  of  passage :  for 
it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  they  would 
assemble  together  merely  to  hide  them- 
selves ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  most  probable 
that,  were  this  the  case,  each  individual 
bird  would  seek  a  hiding  place  for  itselff . 

♦  "  If  we  calculate  the  velocity  of  this  bird  on  the 
wing,  and  that  it  can  and  does  suspend  itself  in  the 
air  for  fourteen  or  fifteen  hours  together  in  search  of 
food,  it  cannot  fly  over  a  space  of  less  than  two  or 
three  hundred  miles  in  that  time."— Montagu  OniitL 

Diet. 

t  If  the  swift  hirundo  apus  lay  torpid  during  the 
whole  of  its  absence,  it  must  sleep  for  a  continuance 


•1,1    l«>q{iiu  - 


16 

It  will  be  proper  now  to  examine  the  ac- 
counts of  mariners  and  others,  who  have 
seen  these  birds  on  their  passage,  many 
hundred  miles  out  at  sea,  and  on  whose 
ships  they  have  alighted  to  rest,  almost 
exhausted  with  fatigue  and  hunger;  by 
which  means  we  may  be  enabled,  in  some 
measure,  to  determine  to  what  quarter  of 
the  globe  they  retire,  when  they  leave  Eu- 
rope in  autumn.  ' 

Adanson,  in  his  Voyage  to  Senegal, 
relates,  that  on  the  sixth  of  October, 
being  about  fifty  leagues  from  the  coast, 
between  the  island  of  Goree  and  Senegal, 
four  swallows  alighted  on  the  shrowds  of 
his  ship,  which  he  easily  caught,  and  knew 
to  be  European  swallows.  He  adds,  that 
these  birds  never  appear  at  Senegal,  but 
in  the  winter  season,  and  that  they  do  not 
build  nests  as  in  Europe,  but  roost  every 
night  on  the  sand  by  the  sea  shore.  It  is 
much  to  be  lamented  that  Adanson,  who 
was  a  naturalist,  did  not  mention  of  what 
species  these  birds  were.     It  is,  however, 

of  above  eight  months,  and  would  afford  an  instance 
of  such  a  preponderance  of  torpidity  over  animation, 
as  occurs  in  nc  other  known  animal. 


mine  the  ac- 
3,  who  have 
3sage,  many 
cl  on  whose 
rest,  ahiiost 
hunger ;  by 
led,  in  some 
t  quarter  of 
?y  leave  Eu- 

to  Senegal, 
)f  October, 
1  the  coast, 
ind  Senegal, 
shrowds  of 
I,  and  knew 
:  adds,  that 
enegal,  but 
they  do  not 
roost  every 
hore.  It  is 
mson,  who 
on  of  what 
s,  however, 

d  an  instance 
:cx  animation, 


17 

most  probable,  as  they  were  seen  at  Senegal 
on   the   sixth  of  October,  that  they  were 
chimney  swallows,  hirimdines  rusticae,  as 
martins,  hirundims  vrbicae,  seldom   leave 
their  summer  haunts  till  after  that  time; 
and  swifts,  hirundines  apodes,  usually  depart 
before  the  twenty   fifth  of  August.     With 
respect  to  bank  martins,  hirundines  ripariae. 
it  is  very  unlikely   that  Adanson   should 
have  mistaken  them  for  chimney  swallows, 
being  distinguishable  at  first  sight  from  the 
three  abovementioned  species,  by  their  in- 
ferior size. 

Latham,  who  quotes  Adanson's  account, 
evidently  understood  the  birds  in  question 
to  be  chimney  swallows,  and  supposes 
Senegal  and  the  adjacent  parts  of  Africa  to 
be  the  winter  residence  of  this  species. 
The  writers  of  Le  Nouvemi  Dictiontiaire 
d'Histoire  Naturelle,  published  at  Paris  in 
1803,  seem  to  have  been  of  the  same  opi- 
nion. Celtes  (les  hirondelles)  de  cheminkf 
say  they  (vol.  xi.  p.  18),  vont  jusqu  au 
Senegal,  ou  elks  arrivent  vers  le  g  Octobre, 
et  en  repartent  au  printcms.  II  n'est  pas 
rare  dans  les  migrations  d'en  voir  en  mer,  qui 
lorsquelles  sont  trop  fatiguees  se  rcposent  nur 


18 

Its  vergues  des  navires;  et  panni  dles^  on  a 
reconnu  celles  qui  hahitent  parmi  nous. 

Another  account,  which  affords  additional 
proof  that  swallows  are  birds  of  passage, 
though  it  will  not  assist  us  in  discovering  to 
what  part  of  the  world  they  go,  is  that  of 
Sir  Charles  Wager,  iirst  lord  of  llio  admi- 
ralty ;  who  relates,  that  in  one  of  his  voy- 
ages home,  as  he  came  into  soundings  of 
our  channel,  a  gi'eat  flock  of  swallows  set- 
tled on  his  rigging :  every  rope  was  covered 
with  them  :  they  hung  on  one  another  like 
a  swarm  of  bees:  the  decks  and  carvings 
were  filled  with  them :  they  seemed  spent 
and  famished,  and,  to  use  his  own  expres- 
sion, were  only  feathers  and  bones;  but, 
recruited  with  a  night's  rest,  they  resumed 
their  flight  in  the  morning. 

Peter  Coliison,  F.  R.  S.,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Hon.  I.  T.  Klein,  mentions,  that  a 
similar  circumstance  happened  to  Captain 
Wright,  in  a  voyage  from  Philadelphia  to 
London;  the  particulars  of  which,  it  ap^ 
pears,  the  captain  neglected  to  relate*. 


♦  Coliison    adds,    "  I  have  for  many  years  beta 
very  watchful  in  taking  notice  of  the  times  when  the 


ni  elks,  on  a 
i  nous. 

ds  additioiiul 
of  passage, 
iscovering  to 
;o,  is  tliat  of 
>f  lh(3  admi- 
)  of  his  voy- 
soundings  of 
swallows  set- 
was  covered 
another  like 
ind  carvings 
scmcd  spent 
own  expres- 
bones;  but, 
iiey  resumed 

1  a  letter  *o 
ons,  that  a 
i  to  Captain 
I'adclphia  to 
hich,  it  ap^ 
0  relate*. 


ny  years  been 
times  when  the 


19 

If  the  above  accounts  may  be  depended 
on   (which  I  can  see  no  reason  to  doubt, 
since  the  relators  could  have  no  interest  in 
supporting  them  if  they  were  false),  it  must 
appear  evident  that  the  birds  in  question, 
at  the  time  when  they  were  seen  at  sea,  as 
above  described,  must  have  been  on  their 
passage  from  some  distant  country;  there 
being  no  other  apparent  cause  for  their 
appearing    at   any    considerable    distance 
from  land. 

Again,  if  swallows  uniformly  appear  in 
Senegal  when  they  disappear  in  almost 
every  country  of  Europe,  and  at  no  other 
time ;  and  if  they  regularly  appear  in  most 
parts  of  Europe  when  they  disappear  in 
Senegal,  and  at  no  other  time,  (which,  ac- 
cording to  Adanson,  is  the  case,)  it  seems 
reasonable  to  conclude,  that  Senegal  and 

swallows  leave  us,  and  I  think  I  have  twice  actually 
»£eu  them  taking  their  flight.  At  two  different  years, 
(on  the  27th  and  29th  of  September)  walking  in  my 
garden  at  noon,  on  very  sunshiny  days,  and  looking 
up  into  the  sky,  I  distinctly  saw  an  innumerable  num- 
ber of  swallows,  soaring  round  and  round  ;  higher  and 
higher;  until  my  eyes  were  so  pained  with  looking  at 
them,  that  I  could  no  longer  discern  them."— See 
Phil.  Trans,  vol.  i.  p.  461. 


20 


I 


oUicr  warm  regions  of  Africa,  and  tlic  cold 
and  temperate  countries  of  Europe  and 
Asia,  are  alternately  inhabited  by  the  same 
birds. 

This  will  appear  more  evident  when  it 
is  considered  that  the  same  causes  which 
operate  to  drive  them  away  from  the 
northern  and  temperate  nations  of  Eu- 
rope and  Asia,  namely,  rigorous  weather, 
and  scarcity  of  food  in  winter,  do  not  exist 
in  Senegal  and  other  tropical  countries, 
where  the  weather  is  constantly  warm,  and 
the  air  always  abounds  with  winged  in- 
sects. 

It  has  often  been  said,  in  objection  to  the 
n}igration  of  swallows,  that,  considering  the 
number  of  these  birds  which  annually  in- 
habit Europe,  if  all  were  to  cross  the  ocean 
twice  a  year,  they  would  oftener  be  seen 
by  mariners  on  their  passage,  than  they  ap- 
pear to  be*.     But  it  seems  to  me  very  un- 


*  It  does  not  appear,  upon  inquiry,  that  these  birds 
are  so  seldom  seen  at  sea,  as,  from  the  scarcity  of 
published  accounts,  one  might  be  inclined  to  ima- 
gine. I  have  often  heard  seamen  say,  that  they  have 
secu  swallows  many  hundred  miles  from  laad,  during 


[ind  die  cold 
Europe  and 
by  the  same 

lent  when  it 
auses  which 
'    from    the 
ons   of  Eu- 
)us  weather, 
do  not  exist 
il  countries, 
warm,  and 
winged  in- 
action to  the 
sidering  the 
innually  in- 
}s  the  ocean 
ler  be  seen 
an  they  ap- 
rie  very  un- 


lat  these  birds 
hie  scarcity  of 
lined  to  ima- 
liat  they  have 
a  land,  during 


HI 

likely  that  they  should  very  frequently  be 
seen  ;  because,  from  the  extraordinary  length 
of  their  wings,  it  is  probable  they  perform 
their  aerial  journies  at  loo  great  a  height  to 
be  discerned  ;  and  most  likely,  those  which 
have  occasionally  alighted  on  ships,  in  their 
way,  had,  owing  to  stormy  weather,  contrary 
winds,  or  some   other   casualty,  been  too 
much  fatigued  to  proceed  without  resting. 
And  I  think  it  further  probable,  tliat  great 
numbers  of  these  birds,  labouring  under  the 
above  disadvantageous  circumstances,  annu- 
ally fall  into  the  sea  and  are  drowned.     For, 
as  While  obstnvcs,  in  his  Natural  History  of 
Selborne,  unless  these  birds  be  very  .hort 
lived  indeed,  or  unless  they  do  not  returi,  to 
districts  where  they  have  been  bred,they  must 
undergo  some  great  devastation  somehow 
or  somewhere;  because  the  numbers  that 
return  in  spring  bear  no  manner  of  propor- 
tion to  those  which  retire  in  autumn. 

I  shall  conclule  my  observations,  by  tak- 
ing some  notice  of  what  several  ancient  and 

their  voyages.  A  friend  of  mine,  lately  returned  from 
the  East  Indies,  says,  he  has  frequently  met  with  these 
birds  in  his  passage  thither. 


i|: 


modrrn  ^vriters  have  said  rcspccling  the 
swallow  :  concerning  the  winter  retreat  of 
whiel),  there  seems  to  have  been  two  dilVer- 
ent  opinions  among  the  ancients,  and  three 
among  the  moderns. 

The  prophet  Jeremiah  takes  notice  of  the 
coming  of  the  swallow,  in  conunon  with 
that  of  several  other  known  birds  of  pas- 
sage *  :  Yea  the  stork  in  the  heavens  knoweth 
her  appointed  time ;  and  the  turtle^  and  the 
cratiet  and  the  szvalloWy  observe  the  time  of 
their  coming.     Chap.  viii.  7- 

The  poet  Anacreon  not  only  notices  the 
migration  of  tiiis  bird,  but  supposes  Aegjpt 
to  be  the  place  of  its  destination -f. 

♦  If  the  reader  slioiUd  doubt  whcllicr  the  llcbrcvr 
^  word  which  wo  render  shallow,  and  the  translators  of 
the  Septuagint  xcm^uv,  originally  signified  the  bird  ta 
which  we  now  give  tiiai  name,  he  may  consult 
Uuchart's  Hierozoicou,  site  de  Animaiibus  Sarrae  Scrip- 
tiirap.     Fol.   London,  1663.    Vol.  ii.  p.  59. 

Erno'ln  /xoMSara, 
&eptt  tr^sKctf  Kahinv 

•H  NEIAON  y,  w)  MEM4>IN. 

Carni.  33. 
Barnes,  the  editor  of  Anacreon,  in  a  note  on  this- 
pasiiage,  says,  "  Nonnulli  putant  (hirundines)  in  see- 


ss 


spccling  the 
cr  retreat  of 
n  two  difl'cr- 
.8,  and  three 

notice  of  the 
innion  with 
tirds  of  pas- 
veiis  knoweth 
rtki  and  the 
:  the  time  of 

notices  the 
OSes  Aegjpt 

icr  the  Hebrew 
;  translators  of 
fied  the  bird  to 
xa&y  consult 
IS  Sacrae  Scrip- 
59. 


irm.  33. 

a  note  on  this' 

iidines)  in  sco- 


Hcrodotuf  observes,  that  kites  and  swal- 
lows arc  found  in  Aegypt  all  the  year 
round  *.  Prosper  Alpinus  infornjs  us,  that' 
there  are  two  kinds  of  swallows  found  in 
Aegypt;  that  one  of  them  is  a  bird  of 
passage,  but  tliat  the  other,  whicii,  from 
the  description  he  has  given  of  it,  appears 
to  be  the  swift,  hirunih  apm,  remains  there 
all  the  yearf.     Aristotle  takes  notice  of  the 

pulia,  aut  in  truntis  nrborum  sopitns  latere,  tolli 
hyeme,  ut  Kirfhcrm  in  inundo  subttrraneo  ;  Ita  Ovid. 
Cum  glaciantur  aquae,  scopulis  se  condil  hirundo. 
Alii  illas  aliquand6  sub  ipsis  aquis,  in  I'undo,  latere  ; 
ut  Vciktinius  in  libro  de  aeris  et  alimenti  dfcfectu  ct 
vit&  sub  aquia."  The  abov*i  quoted  hexameter  line  is 
not  in  Ovid's  works,  it  must  therefore  have  been 
wrongly  quoted  from  the  Larin  Anthologia. 

Lib.  ii.  cap.  22. 

Possibly  some  of  the  species  remain  all  the  year  in 
the  warm  regions  of  Africa  and  Asia,  while  others 
annually  migrate  into  the  nore  northern  parts  of  the 
world,  where  they  are  very  useful  in  clearing  the  air 
of  innumerable    insects,  with   which  it   abounds   in 

summer. 

Kites  {Ulim  vd  Umt)  are  generally  believed  to 
migrate  into  Aegypt  in  great  numbers  in  autumn. 

t  Hirundines  duplicis  generis  ibi  obseruantur;  pa- 
triae scilicet,  quae,  numquam  ab  Aegypto  discedentei 
ibi  perpetu6  morantur;  atque  peregrinae ;  hae  sunt 

D 


li} 


!ii 


^1 


24 

deparLure  oi"  swallows,  but  says  notliino 
fiuthi^r  concerning  llicir  brumal  residence, 
than  that  they  do  not  winter  in  Greece*. 

Isidorus  mentions  their  passage  across 
the  sea,  and  supposes  that  they  winter  in 
some  distant  country -j-. 

Pliny,  as  I  have  before  observed,  asserts, 
that  they  Avithdraw  themselves  in  autumn  to 
the  sunny  recesses  of  mountains,  where 
they  are  found  in  winter  without  feathers. 
Neither  does  he  appear  altogether  singular 
in  this  opinion ;  Claudian  alludes  to  swal-r 
lows  being  found  dead  in  the  hollow  lrun;.,s 


'/''' 


nostiatibus  omiiino  similes  ;  patriae  vero  toto  etiam 
venire  iiigrieant. —  Hht.  Jegi/pt.  vol.  i.  p.  198. 

*  A'ssalpa  ^e,  8cc.  ««i  s  ;)(;£(,a«fs£ri,  km  at  ;^£AiJbVf;,  Koci  at 
rpvyovci.  —  Hist.  lib.  viii.  cap.  IC. 

Aristotle  in  another  place,  as  Gcsner  observes,  men- 
tions the  swift,  aTTou;,  as  being  seen  at  all  times  of  the 
year ;  and  notices  the  resemblance  of  this  bird  to  the 
swallow,  xE'^'^W;  which,  with  many  other  passages  that 
the  reader  may  find  and  consult  by  referring  to  the 
index  at  the  end,  leave  no-  room  to  doubt  that  the 
aTTovi  was  our  swift,  hirundo  apits.  I  do  not  know, 
however,  that  in  any  part  of  Greece  this  bird  remains 
all  the  year.  The  account,  however,  seems  to  corrc- 
sponci  with  that  of  Prosper  Alpinus  above  cited. 

t  Maria  transuolat  (hirundo)  ibicjue  hyeme  comraQ^ 
t[^\.\\\\-^  Isidores, 


says   notliing 
lal  residence, 
1  Greece*, 
assage  across 
ley  winter  in 

3rved,  asserts, 
in  antumn  to 
itains,  where 
hout  featliers. 
3llier  singnlar 
Lides  to  swalf 
hollow  Irun^.s 

vero  toto  etiam 
i.  p.  198. 

ai  x^^'^ovii,  Kctt  at 

2t  observes,  tnen- 
it  ail  times  of  the 
f  this  bin!  to  the 
her  passages  that 

referring  to  the 
o  doubt  that  the 

I  do  not  know, 
this  bird  remains 
,  seems  to  corrc- 
bove  cited, 
e  h^'eme  commo'^ 


25 

of  trees  in  wiutcr* ;  and  it  is  remarkable 
there  are  thn^e  islands  over  against  Monnt 
Taurus,  called  by  the  ancients  p^£M<?Jn«i,  and 
a  promontory  called  x^^'^^'*^'''"  '•>  because 
swallows  were  supposed  to  hide  themselves 
there  in  winterf .  The  west  wind  likewise, 
from  blowing  in  the  spring,  about  the  time 
of  the  swallow's  arrival,  was  denominated 
Chelidonian  |,. 

I  now  come  to  the  opinion  of  more  mo- 
dern writers  on  this  subject,  who  seem  to 
have  been  as  undetermined  with  respect  to 
the  winter  retreat  of  the  swallow,  as  the  an- 
cients. 

It  appears  that   Olaus   Magnus,    arch- 

*  Vel  qualis  gelidis  plumS,  labente  pruinis 
Arboris   inraoritur  trunco  brumalis  hirmido. 

Claud,  in  Eutrop. 

There  is  a  curious  Latin  hexameter  poem,  published 

many  years  ago   in   Holland,  on  the  occasion  of  a 

swallow  being  found   in  a  hollow  tree ;   a  copy  of 

which  is  in  the  library  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks. 

t  Quae    contra    tauri    promontorium    importunae 
nauigantibus    obiacent,   Chelidoniae    nominantur.— 
Pomp.  Mela,  cle  Situ  Orbis,  ii.  9.  27. 
%  Oppian  calls  the  swallow, 

M>]T)j/3  eiapivt)  l:cfvpou  'sr/JOTayyt■^OJ  opvif. 
And  Horace  solicits  the  return  of  his  friend, 
Cum  zephyris,  si  coucedes,  et  hirundine  prima. 


I 
I 

1! 


J 


I  h  L 


M 


26 

bishop  of  Vpsala,  was  the  first  who  broach- 
ed I  lie  opinion,  that  these  birds  spent  the 
winter  under  water.  Tiiis  credulous  man 
assures  us,  that  they  are  frequently  found 
clustered  together  in  masses,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  northern  lakes,  and  that  they  creep 
down  the  reeds  in  autumn  to  their  sub^ 
aqueous  retreats*. 

Kh'in  was  decidedly  of  opinion,  that 
chiumey  swallows  wintered  in  the  water,  and 
sand  martins  in  their  holes  in  the  banks  of 
rivers,  etc.-f- 

Linnaeus  asserts,  that  chimney  swallows 
and  martins  immerse  themselves  in  the 
water  in  winter;  but  supposes  that  swifts 
lay  concealed  in  holes  in  church  towers, 
and  other  secure  places ."{:. 

•  "  TImt  the  good  archbishop"  (soys  Pennant)  "  did 
not  want  credulity  in  other  instances,  appears  from 
this,  that  having  stocked  the  bottoms  of  the  lakes  with 
birds,  he  stores  the  clouds  with  mice,  which  sometimes 
fall  in  plentiful  showers  on  Norway  and  the  neigh- 
bouring countries." — rSee  Gesner.  Icon.  An.  100.  The 
immense  number  of  lemmings,  mures  lemmi,  which,  at 
uncertain  periods,  suddenly  make  their  appearance  in 
various  parts  of  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Lapland,  ha^ 
probably  given  birth  to  this  strange  conjecture. 

t  See  Kleiii's  Hist.  Auiutn. 

t  Hybernat  in  teniplornm  foraminibus. 


37 


ho  broach- 
spent  the 
lulous  man 
;ntly  found 
the  bottom 
they  creep 
their  sub- 

inion,  that 
!  water,  and 
tie  banks  of 

ey  swallows 

Ives   in   the 

that  swifts 

rch   towers, 


Pennant)  "  did 
appears  from 
the  lakes  with 
lich  sometimes 
,nd  the  neigh- 
Jri.  100.  The 
tmi,  which,  at 
appearance  in 
I  Lapland,  ha^ 
jecture. 


4*ontoppidan  gives  it  as  his  belief^  thai" 
swallows  spent  the  winter  in  the  water  ;  and 
asserts,  that  they  are  frequently  taken  out 
of  that  element  in  large  masses,  by  fisher- 
men, in  Norway  and  other  northern  coun- 
tries*. 

Daiiics  Bavrington  supposed  that  the 
cimuney  swallow  r'  nained  during  winter 
immersed  in  water ;  but  that  the  martin  lay 
hid  in  cavities  of  rocks,  old  towers,  and 
other  secluded  ffetreats :  in  support  of  which 
opinion   he    adduces  a  great    number   of 

facts -f'. 
.  Bewick  expresses  himself  decidedly  in 
favour  of  migration.     /  fter  having  made  a 
few  remarks  on  the  occasional  torpidity  of 
these  birds,  he  adds:  "  On  the  other  hand, 
that  actual  migrations  of  the  swallow  tribe 
do  take  place,  has  been  fully  proved  by  a 
variety  of  well  attested  facts,  most  of  which 
have  been  taken  from  the  obsei-vations  of 
navigators,  who  were  eye  witnesses  of  their 
flights,  and   whose  ships  have   sometimes 
afforded  ix3Sting  places  to  the  weary  travel- 
lers.   To  the  many  on  record  we  shall  add 

*  Poiifop.  Hist.  yoiTCatf. 

+  Barriiigtoii's  MiscelL  p.  255,  and  sequel. 


^8 


.'■li 


■f 


the  following,  which  we  received  from  a 
very  sensible  master  of  a  vessel,  who,  whilst 
he  was  sailing  early  in  the  spring,  between 
the  islands  of  Minorca  and  Maiorca,  saw 
great  numbers  of  swallows  tiylng  north- 
ward, many  of  which  alighted  on  the  rig- 
ging of  his  ship  in  the  evening,  but  disap- 
peared before  morning*/' 

Pennant  believed  that  the  bulk  of  each 
species  migrated  ;  but  admits  that  some  in- 
dividual birds  may  have  occasionally  been 
found  torpid  in  winter :  in  which  opinion 
Latham,  and  White,  and  in  short  most 
modern  naturalists,  appear  to  have  con- 
curred. 

In  fine,  the  result  of  my  researches  on 
this  subject  has  convinced  me,  that  the 
swallow  is  a  migratory  bird,  annually  re- 
visiting the  same  countries  in  common 
with  other  birds  of  passage  ;  and  that  the 
bulk  of  each  species  betake  tiiemselvey  to 
some  wanner  climate  when  they  disappear 
in  autumn.  There  is  sufficient  evidence  on 
record  to  establish  *,he  migration  of  birds 
of  this  genus;  at  the  same  time  that, 
from    the    inaccrate    observation  of  the 

-     *  Betdck's  Btitiift  Birds,  vol.  i.   Introduction. 


29 


d  from  a 
/ho,  whilst 
^,  between 
iorca,  saw 
ng  north- 
n  the  rig- 
but  disap- 

k  of  each 
t  some  in- 
nally  been 
;h  opinion 
liort  most 
have  con- 

iarches  on 
,  that  the 
mually  re- 
common 
d  that  the 
mselvey  to 
disappear 
,'idence  on 
n  of  birds 
time  that, 
on  of  tlie 

eduction. 


witnesses,  it  is  difficult,  in  most  cases,  to 
determine  exactly   the   specie^  alluded   to. 
But    whilr    it   is  pretty    certain    that    the 
greatest  number  of  swallows  migrate,  it  is 
not  impossible   that   many   individuals   of 
each    of  the    spi^ies    may   be    concealed 
during  winter   near   their  summer  haunls. 
Nature    may    have    provided    the  swallow 
with  this  power    of  acconnnodating   itselt 
to    accidental    circumstances ;     and    have 
enabled   it,  when    hatched  late,   or  other- 
wise   prevented    from  joining    the  annual 
emigration,    to   sleep   in   security   througii 
the   season    when  it  could    not  obtain  its 
proper  food    abroad;    and  to   be   revived 
again  on  thje  return  of  warm  weather  and 
of  food.     On  the  other  hand,  as  there  exists 
no   proof   of   the    vernal    rcanimalion    ol 
torpid  swallows,  it  is  possible  that  tlieir  tor- 
pidity, perhaps  induced  merely  oy  cold  and 
hunger,  may,  unless  they  bcro'.sed  by  acci- 
dent before  it  has  gone  on  tm  long,  be  a 
fatal  period  to  their  existence.     The  cases 
of  the  discov(ny  and  revival  of  such  tor- 
pid swallows   are   surely  interesting;    and 
future   investigations  may,  perhaps,  throw 
KOUiG  light  on   the  destiny   of  those  left 


so 

undisturbed.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  tber 
increasing  knowledge  of  the  Linnaean  clas- 
sification will  produce,  in  future,  a  .nore  ex- 
plicit description  of  the  particular  species, 
when  any  cases  of  the  kind  are  pub- 
lished, and  that  persons  who  may  meet 
with  them  will  communicate  them  through 
the  medium  of  the  Philosophical  Magazine, 
or  some  other  of  the  public  prints.  The 
subject  certainly  deserves  the  accurate  at- 
tention of  the  students  of  natural  history. 

It  may  be  said,  that  some  of  the  passages 
cited  in  this  work  may  relate  to  species  of  the 
swallow  which  are  not  found  in  Great  Bri- 
tain. That  this  is  seldom,  if  ever,  the  case, 
I  am  persuaded ;  not  only  because  our  four 
species  also  inhabit  Italy  and  Greece,  but 
because  few  of  the  other  species  of  this 
genus  are  found  in  those  countries  in  which 
the  authors  lived  whose  works  have  been 
cited.  The  index  at  the  end,  however, 
certainly  refers  to  many  species.  That 
the  reader  may  be  enabled  to  judge  of  this 
for  himself,  I  subjoin  the  following  short 
account  of  the  other  s|)ecies. 

1.  Hirundo  Esculenta.  An  inhabitant  of 
China,  and  is  celebraiv^d  for  its  esculent 
nests. 


that  the 
lean  clas- 
.nore  ex- 
r  species, 
are  pub- 
lay  meet 
I  through 
lagazine, 
its.  The 
urate  at- 
listory. 
passages 
ies  of  the 
reat  Bri- 
the  case, 
our  four 
eece,  but 
i  of  this 
in  which 
ave  been 
however, 
I.  That 
;e  of  this 
ng  short 

bitant  of 
esculent 


31 

2.  liirundo  Purpurea.  Wholly  of  a  viola- 
ceous colour,  with  a  forked  tail.  Inhabits 
South  America,  lives  about  houses,  and  is 
said  to  warn  the  chickens  of  the  approach 
of  rapacious  birds. 

3.  Hirundo  Subis.  Of  a  bluish  black  co- 
lour ;  is  an  inhabitant  of  Hudson's  Bay. 

4.  Hirundo  Senegalensis.  Of  a  shining 
black,  the  under  parts  reddish:  an  inha- 
bitant of  Senegal. 

5.  Hirundo  lapera  (Maregr.  brag.  205); 
upper  parts  black, under  parts  white;  inha- 
bits America. 

6.  Hirundo  Pelasgica.  Also  an  Americ  . 
species ;  inhabits  chimneys,  like  the  Hirundo 

Rustica. 

7.  Hirundo  Melba.  Brown,  the  under 
parts  white;  inhabits  the  Fretum   Hercu- 

leum.   ' 

8.  Hirundo  Fratincola.  This  large  spe- 
cies is  probably  the  one  alluded  to  by  Sca- 
liger,  when  he  said  he  saw  a  swallow  of  the 
size  of  a  turtle  dove.     It  is  brown  above 

'  and  white  below,  with  a  blackish  line  about 
its  neck.  Inhabits  the  coasts  of  the  South 
of  Europe,  'i'wo  specimens  have  bee  n  seen 
alive  in  England,  an  account  of  which  may 


i  ?l? 


be  iouiKi  ;it  the  end  ol*  ihc  last  volume 
of  the  Triuisaclious  of  the  Linuacam  So- 
ciety. 

The  Fauna  Suecica,  and  also  lirown  in  his 
Jamaica,  class  the  Capi inuilgi  Euiopcus  and 
Amcricanus  among  the  swallows. 

I  might  add  tlu^  sea  swallows;  Stei'iia 
hirundo.  Sterna  vdnuta^  the  Sandwich  tern, 
and  others  of  the  genus.  Some  of  these 
may  have  been  mistaken  by  some  writers 
for  swallows.  But  the  accounts  which  I 
have  received  of  swallows  being  seen  at  sea, 
arc  explicit  enough  to  delermine  them  not 
to  be  terns^  though  they  are  not  satisfactory 
as  to  what  species  of  swallow. 


\mK 


1 


ist  volume 
uacam   So- 

rown  in  his 
ropciis  and 

vs ;  Stama 
Iwicli  tern, 
le  of  these 
me  writers 
ts  which  I 
seen  at  sea, 
J  them  not 
satisfactory 


APPENDIX. 


Extract  frow  a  Journal  of  Natural  History, 
showmrr  the  First  and  Latest  Appearance  oj 
Hmdloxvx.  compared  '.cith  other  Phacnomena, 
during  several  Years,  at  Clapton,  near  London. 

innST  AVl'KAUANCF,  OF  THU  SWALLOW  IN   1805. 

Hmnulo  vHslica  first  api.carcd  April  5,  but  not 
numerous  lill  the  cud  of  the  month. 

FIRST  APVEARANCK  OF  MIUKATOKV  lUKUS  IN   I8O6. 

nirmdo  rmtica  first  apprarcd  at  Woodford,  in 
Essex,  April  <2,  and  became  common  towards,  the  latter 
<>ud  of  the  month. 

iJirundo  vrhica,  first  seen  April  '20;  long  before  it 

became  common. 

iijnxtorquilla,  first  heard  and  seen  May  1. 
CncuUis  iunorm,  the  cuckoo,  first  heard  May  3. 
Motarilla  atnaipilhi,  seen  May  8. 
Motacillu  Ix'^riniu,  the  nightingale,  heard  May  18. 
Swallows  of  both  kinds  becanK-  numerous. 

*  Motucitla  rvbetra,  the  wh.nchat,  observed  Mav  «0. 

.  rroba'-ly  appeared  much  sooner,  though  not  observed:  it. 
.„-,.,rutio..  in  LJind.  is  only  .Vo.u  northward  to  southward  hke  tl. 
.;i;echat  ...tueWa  rulccoU,  ft  remains  all  the  yea.  n.  t,u  n.ore 
goutlirrn  parts  of  England. 


34 


Through  ihis  (ncning,  au  unusually  great  number  of 
flies,  flying  in  a  vortex,  were  observed  in  the  gprdcti 
till  late  in  the  evening.  The  mi  liirida  in  flower. 
The  iride^  versicolor  and  pseudacnrns  cnnie  into  flower 
this  spring  in  the  beginning  of  June. 

The  lust  appearance  of  migratory  birds  this  year 
was  not  noticed. 

Ciicidus  canoriis,  heard  first  April  23. 

li/iu  torqiiiUa,  April  .'iO. 

Ilirundo  rustica,  first  seen  May  I. 

Hirundo  vrhica,  the  same  day. 

Hirundo  apm,  first  seen,  and  numerous,  May  1(1. 
I     Flowers  in  bloom.     Iris  pseudacorm,  June  14.    Pa- 
paver  iomuiferitm,  the  large  white  variety,  July  1. 

1808. 

Hirundo  rustica,  first  seen  April  18.  From  the  24th 
to  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  no  swallows  were  to  be 
seen ;  the  weather  being  cold,  with  north  wind,  they 
afterwards  became  numerous. 

Hirundo  vrbica,  seen  first  May  1. 

lyiuc  torquilla,  the  aamc  .-lay  first  heard. 

Hirundo  apm.  This  species  first  appeared,  and  was 
abundant.  May  14.  It  was  on  the  Qlst  of  this  month  I 
saw  the  lambent  electric  light  about  the  leaves  of  plants 
at  eventide,  described  in  my  "  Researches  about  Atmo- 
spheric Phaenomena,"  note  to  chap.  iii.  §  3.  The  fol- 
lowing was  the  order  in  which  plants  flowered  this 
spring  and  summer.  -  Ins  Germanica,  3 yxoe  S.  Papauar 
orientate,  the  monkshood  popp)',  7th.  Sci/la  peru- 
uiana,  and  Iris  lurtda,  lOth.  Iris  pseudacorus,  14th. 
Papavera  dubium,  Rhoeas,  hybridutn  ei  Argemoue,  25th. 
Helianthus  annuut,  July  28. 


35 


at  number  of 
n  the  gprdcn 
fa  in  flower. 
IK  into  flower 

rds  this  yeai 


,  May  1(). 
une  U.    Fa- 
,  Julys. 

rom  the  24th 
vs  were  to  be 
ih  wind,  they 


[ired,  and  was 
'  this  month  I 
aves  of  plants 
about  Atnoo- 
)3.  Thefol- 
flowered  this 
le  S.  Papauer 
Sci/la  peru- 
lacorut,  14th. 
•gemoue,  25  th. 


lATEST  APPEAItANCE  OF   MIGRATOBY  BIRDl  IN    1809. 

Uinouh  opm,  August  14.  Sparrows, /nwgiW^f  do- 
mesticoe,  have  brgun  to  cougregatc  some  time  past, 
»nd  to  fly  ab<.ut  in  floclc*.     Martins  begin  to  (.ongre. 

gate. 

Hirundo  rustica,  seen  till  middle  of  October. 
Hirumlo  vrbica  disappeared  shortly  alter. 

FIRST  APPKARANCP.  IN    1809. 

Ilirumh  rusticu.  On  the  S<)th  of  January,  during  the 
great  floods  in  the  marshes,  by  which  even  the  bridge 
at  Hackney  brook  was  inundated,  a  single  swallovr 
appeared.      The     bird     did    not    appear    again    till 

April  24. 

Hirmdo  vrbica  seen  by  me  May  9.  I  believe,  by 
other  people,  a  few  days  9t,oner.  Both  specie,  be- 
came  numerous  on  the  t3th.  Early  in  May,  I  saw 
numbers  of  torpid  bats  in  Wokie  Hole,  near  Wells. 
The  papauer  orietitale  flowered  this  spring  May  17, 
and  scilla  Peruuiana,  and  tragopogon  polnfolinm, 
June  1 1.  Papauer  sommferum,  many  coloured  vane- 
ties,  June  2a.  . 

On  the  4th  July  I  saw  the  swift,  hirundo  apus,  flying 
aloft  during  a  hard  thunderstorm.  Last  appearance, 
unnoticed. 

LATEST  APPEARANCE  IN   1809. 

Hirundo  rustica,  October  3  ;  a  straggler  on  the  Uth. 
Hirundo  vrbica,  October  16.      Flocks  of  wild  ducks 
flying  over  the  marshes  on  the  20th, 

EARUEST  APPEARANCE  IN   1810, 

This  vrasamild  spring;  frogs  were  abundant,  and 
M  snowdrop,  garanthus  nivalis,  was  in  flower  Feb.  4. 


'  m  li^ij 


mBIHHWI 


36 

Ilimiuh  riistiai.  A  straggling  swnllow,  said  to 
liavf  been  seen  in  ihc  nudcllc  of  Miucli.  I  saw  this 
bird  on  the  GOtli  April. 

Iliiinido  irliiiii,  bccn  llic;  same  day,  April  'JO.  Tliis 
wn3  at  i'laislow,  ncnr  \^  c^iliain.  On  tlic  '2 1st  the 
swallows  appeared  at  Hackney.  This  became  fre- 
quent toward  May.  They  arc  said  to  appear  earlier 
over  niiuslies  and  near  rivers,  than  more  inland.  Mar- 
tiiis  were  numerous  long  before  tbey  were  seen  about 
their  nest  . 

/V»r  tonjiii/id,  the  wryneek,  April  21. 

Ilintiido  tipiis  first  appeared  May  U).  These  birds 
were  not  frequent  about  their  old  haunts  in  Ilaekucy 
Old  Chureh  tower  till  May  Qj.  On  the  'M[h,  juipauer 
Cainhriciiin  was  in  flower.  The  h'mmdo  ripaik  is  said 
to  have  been  seen  this  summer  about  the  ctgle  pond, 
WaDstead.  1  have  never  myself  seen  this  bird  there. 
It  is  frequent  in  Surrey  about  the  sand  banks,  and 
also  on  parts  of  the  Thames. 

LAST  APPEARANCH  IN    1810. 

Iliriindo  apus.  This  bird,  though  gone  from  Hack- 
ney sooner,  was  seen  by  me  at  Ely  Cathedral  on  the 
19th  August. 

Jlinnido  rmlico,  October  10. 

Jliiundo  vrhka,  October  10;  by  some  people,  later. 


FIRST  APPEARANCE  IN   1811. 

Motacilla  ntricapiHa,  April  5. 
Ii/nr  torquillu,  April  8. 
Hiruiido  riistica,  April  18. 
Motacilla  phoenicurus,  April  21. 
Cuculus  canorm,  April  23. 


low,   said   to 
I  suw  this 

iril  'iO.     This 

tlic  ':i>^i  ilic 

became  tVe- 
ippear  caili<  r 
iiilaml.  iMar- 
c  seen  ubuiit 


Tlicsc  birds 
1  ill  Ihu-kucy 
;50lh,  jxipauer 
ripaii'X  is  said 
!  eagle  poiul, 
lis  bird  tlieie. 
d  banks,  and 


ic  from  Ilack- 
ihedral  on  the 


people,  later. 


1. 


57 

llinmlo  ahia,,  second  week  in  May.    OwU  hoot 
inuclif 

i,ATi.si  A»'i'i;AUANrr.  in  IHU. 

Uh-HHih  nisiicfi.  I  last  saw  ibis  species  on  the  8tli 
ofOcU.bcr:  tlu'V  nppcarfd  bovvever,  I  believe,  a  liltk 
afterwards,  llmiigh  only  here  and  there  a  straggler. 

HinvKh  v,t>iai,  eoiigiegating  and  abundant  on  the 
gtli  of  October;  soon  afterwards  diia|)peared. 

FIRST  AP»Mv\UANCE  IN    181'i. 

Hirundn  riislica.  Edward  Forster,  jun.  to  whom 
1  am  indebted  for  much  orthorological  informa- 
tion, observed  this  species  on  April  the  15tb.  They 
shortly  afterwards  became  coininoa. 

Ciiculus  aiiioi'Ks,  first  heard  April  <13. 

IJirumh  vrbica,  end  of  April. 

llhundo  aims,  the  fust  week  in  May ;  not  frequent 
for  many  days  afterwards. 

Cipmrmlgm  Enropaeiis,  seen   in  Epping  Forest  se- 
cond  week  in  June  ;  probably  arrived  n  month  before. 

This  spring,  the  Scijlla  Venmiam  flowered  June  8. 
Papauer  o>iciUale,,\ uwc  12. 

LATEST  APPEARANCli  IN   1812. 

Hirundo    apus.     This   species   was  seen  at   Pen- 
•hurst  as  late  as  Sept.  20. 

Hirundo  vrbica,  seen  late  in  October. 
Jlirundo  rustica,  late  in  October. 

FIRST  APPEARANCE  IN  1813i 

Jlirundo  ruHica,  beginning  of  April. 


38  ' 

Jlirundo  vrbica,  middle  of  April. 
Hinmdo  apus,  early  in  May. 

LATEST  APPEARANCE  IN   1813. 

Hirundo  apus.    This  species  was  missed,  as  usual, 
in  the  middle  of  August. 

Hirmdo  ruslica.  Stragglsrs  seen  as  late  as  Octo- 
ber 20. 

Hirundo  vrhka,  21st  October. 

Having  given  the  above  sketch  of  the  earliest  and 
latest  appearances  at  Clapton,  of  some  of  the  swallows 
during  a  few  years,  I  shall  conclude  by  advising  the 
follovs°ing  mode  of  furthering  the  inquiry  into  the 
T^-inter  retreat  of  swallows  in  particular,  as  well  as 
of  birds  in  general.  A  regular  table  should  be  made 
out  annually,  from  accurate  observation,  and  it  should 
consist  of  seven  or  eight  columns,  as  follows  :  thus, 


1 

t 

s 

4 

s 

6 

7 

8 

g 

'3 

•S 

a 

0) 

■e 

u 

1 

. 

"S 

a 

*s 

1 

o 

P 

i 

i 

■s 

S 

I 

•2 

1 

■c 
s 

9 

13 

1 

t 
1 

"S 

a 
.2 

s 
1 

K 

■s 

'o 

>.      £ 

V 

it 

2 

a 

V) 

a 

(3 

" 

e 

ti 

^ 

(^ 

n 


;d,  as  usual, 
ate  as  Octo- 


earliest  and 
the  swallows 
advising  the 
liry  into  the 
r,  as  well  as 
luld  be  made 
and  it  should 
iws:  thus, 


* 

5 

6 

T 

•o 

o 

u 

« 

s 

a 

> 

•a 

c 

s 

i 

a 

o 

•s 

1 

9 

% 

£ 

« 

a 

" 

£ 

^ 

S 

39 

Similar  tables  of  the  autumnal  diminution  of  their 
numbers  and  latest  appearances  might  be  T«ade  out 
By  a  comparison  of  many  such  tables  as  these,  made 
from  observations  in  different  places,  we  may  poss.bly 
trace  the  swallow,  in  some  degree,  through  .ts  passage, 
by  noticing  its  successive  appearance  in  places  more 
and  more  northward  from  the  aequator.al  to  the  polar 
regions  in  spring,  and  backward  again  m  autumn. 
Such  tables,  made  .ut  ir  different  places,  ""ay  be  com- 
,r,unicated  to  the  pul  ).c  in  the  Philosophical  Maga- 
zine  and  other  periodical  journals. 


.    !i 


I 


INDEX 

TO  PASSAGES  RELATING  TO  THE  SWALLOW  IN  %'MI 
WORKS  OF  ANTIENT  AND  MODERN  AUTHORS. 


A«UAK,  ^.pi?:«iv.  Ub.i.  12.  58.-iii.  24.  SS.-TUi.  «.-*.  34.- 

xii.  iS.  I 

Abat.  DJm.  212. 

Aribtot.  K-.  ?«iv.  lib.  viii.  18.— "X^  S3. 

An ACREON  Cam.  12.  33.  .„....-  ,i!oo 

AR.STOPH.  1.  47.-B.  93.  693.-E..  801.-O.  715. 1412.  UtT.  16««. 

—A  771  — ©•  X' 
Anthoi,.  rrf.  Lot.  epiy.  de  tceOm,  av.  et  g-odnip.  1.  2«.  39.- *i^. 

«,««»,  lin.  5.-corm>  in  cbU.  Mmcenat.  lin.  101. 
CATvt.  carm.  Ixiv.  13. 
Clavdiam.  in  Eutnp.  lib.  i.  117. 
CoLVME'..  XL.  ii.  21.  ill.  5. 
H^^siOD.  opera  et  diei,  lin.  566. 
Homer.  o».  <?.  411.-X-  240.  -ftyton,  xlvill.  10. 
Herodot.  lib .  ii.  22. 

HoR.  Com.  lib.  iv.  1?.  Uii.  b.—epM.  lib.  i.  7.  lin.  «. 
Jeremiah,  vii.  7, 
IsiDOR.  Orig.  multis  in  locis. 
IvvENAt.  Sat.  X.  231. 

LvciAh.  Tim.  H.-varia  hist.  iS.-Tragop.  lin.  49. 

LvcRET.  de  rer,  not.  lib.  iii.  6. 

MoscH.  Idyl.  ili.  lin.  39. 

Martial,  lib.  v.  epig,  68. 

NoNNV*  Di<mj(»  lib.  2.  ^  ,.  ^,„ 

Ovid.  F«t.  lib.  ii.  853.-'IVi.<.  iii.  12. 9.-d-  «t.  <m«d.  \u  149.- 
«pij)«.  ex  pont.  lib.  iv.  14. 13.  — Mrf.  yi.  437. 

Oppian.  halieHt.  lib.  iii.  244.  —  Cy«.  i"-  ^  . 

PUN.  Hit.  Nat.  lib.  ii.  47.-iv.  9:-viU.  2r.-X.  12.  24.  SS.  39.  ,^ 
53.-xi.  37.-xviii.  26. 31. 35.-xix.  33.-xxix.  4.  d.-xitir.  4. 7  W. 


iP 


42 


lUl 


Plvtaiich.  flymim.  lib.  viii.  7. 

PiAVT.  Rud.  act.  iii.  seen.  i.  lin.  1- 

p„„SP.  Af.PiN.  ilW.   I'WP*.  vol.  1.  p.  198-       . 

Q  Serex.  Samon.  <(c  mcd.  r.p.  Ixii.  13.-lxiii.  6. 

ST*T.vs  miaid.  lib.  viii.  eiO.-'"'-  *88. 

T.  CviP.  Sum.,  hue.  eel.  v.  16. 

TiiEorniT.  Idijl.  7. 

Vauko  de  dym.  hlr. 

i^         i:i.   i   ^77  — iv  SOr.— 4«»«»d.  xli.  4'* 
VlBGII..  Ocnrg.  lib.  I.  377.      iv,  ovi 

Aldrov.  0,m.  1.  ir.  c.  (i.  r.  8.  19. 

Albert,  llut.  An.  lib.  i.  c  3. 

AiHlN.  5.  p.  43.  t.  4.'i. 

b"..  J.  <i'0-  4to.  Par.  1780.  Plan  d'ouvr.  p.  iS. 

Bell.  au.  100.  a. 

Bewick's  Brit,  liirds,  p.  248. 

Barrinoton  Miscdi.  p.  225. 

BocH^BT.  niw«*.  vol.  ii.  p.  59. 

BiNCLEv's  Anim.  Bio<r.  vol.  ii.  p.  382. 

BboWn'8  .lamaicii,  467. 

Bris.  Om.  ii.  p.  486, 

Catesby  Carol,  i.  51 .  app.  8. 

DomLEVs  ,M.>«/.  vol.  v.  p.  72.  75. 

DER..AM  Phys.  mol.  book  vii.  chap. ..  note  p.  .78. 

Cavellat  Port.  d'Oi/sYfliw,  pp.  i'^- 1""-  . 

ErKMARCK  .ii.r.  a.  «.««.«.  -<;.«.  ..-,  75.  vol.  .v.  589. 

FoRSTER'8  Trans.  Kato. /imr.  p.  140. 

FAVNA  SVECICA,  644.  245.  246.  247.  248.,(p.  90.) 

Galenvs  EuporUtoH,  lib.  iii.  283. 

GE9NER  Hist.  An.  vol.  iii.  PP- 160.  528. 

Gra\'9  Elegy,  Ch.  Yd.  1. 18, 

loNST.  Om.  115.  t.  42, 

KiRANiDES,  lib.  iii.  et  ult. 

Klein.  HUt.  Av.  204. 

Lath.  S^op.  ii.  p-  560. 

LiN.Sysf.  NHt.lI.vi.117.1.3.4.6, 

Xewin  Bird«,  vol.  iii.  P-  38. 
Mebb.  Pi.'.  177. 

Montagu,  Ornirt.  Diet,  and  Supp. 
Pen.  Brit.  Zaol.  vol.  ii.  248. 

PvLT.  gen.  view.  Lin.  p.  81.  loi.-lxiv.  156. 

piiiLOSOPH.  Thans.  vol.  XX.  lOS—H.  459. 
.^Uv.  2»8.  343. 


589. 


rrgi?m 


.  101. — Wv»  iSfi* 


4d 


PONTOP.  Hilt.  Ifor.  ii.  98. 
Raii  Syiinp.v.n. 

?;r,.i^;: «.  -  i.. — 3, .. .«.-««. ». .  ..»•«.,  5.- 

T».  All..  ..I  i.'.  .«»■  «-""■'»■  '■'""'•  ""  "■  ~'  •■■  '•  "• 

TlioMPs.Sw*- .1«'   !•  "''l- 

Trans.  Li.n.  Soc.  vol.  i.  121.- iii-  li.-'V.C. 

Will.  O™.  I;I..  ii.  <  ap.  S.  tab.  ;V.). 

White  \..«    Hist-  ^^V"'-  vol.  i-  rJH.  29.?.  -i.-  74.  197.  201. 

Theraix-     u  -..o  speak  of  the  Swallow,  c-tec,  by 

oCr!   as    Achacu,,    Eu.tathiu«,    Gyrald..,    T.na..y.U..s,    N.col. 

My..p..s,  Fuchsi..,  ^.  ^^^  ^^^^     ^^^, 

GENT.  MAO.  vol.   X.    P  .l.^^;/'"^/  263.'i94.-xlvi.203. 

:;rrn"-.^T  -■^^'-"^•-■-•-•-'^'• 
:«^-.  J^  ^.  .^Oa.  .0..  713.  798.  80.,.  0...  «77.  91.  978. 

a  21027    1033.  1161.  1181.-lxin.  124.  135.  60...  703.  817.-lxv. 

Z^^^-  ^0.  115.  196.  197.  .10.  .67.  270.  279.  385.  394. 
3.9  401.  480.  731.  994.-lxvii.  179.  272.  lOlO.-lxix.  291..-lxxu 
,  ILii.  415.  416.-Uxiv.410.523.62e.  ^^^^■^-)^'^■'''' 
1118  U87  1211.-1XXV.  114.  314.  704.  «12.  100.=i.  1023.  1106- 
lxxvi.lio.  4.'1.703.  923.  995.  1016.-lxxvu.  3.  228.  326.  428.^ 

—  Ixxviii.  37.  409. 
Month.  Mag.  vol.  xix.  p.  541.  — xxi.  415. 
Nicholsons  Journal,  Nat.  Phil.  1810. 
TiLLOCH's  Phil,  itfuff.  1813. 


As  the  above  Index  refers  to  books  in  several  languages,  I  anne* 
the  following  list  of  different  names  for  the  Swallow  •. 


•  The  Snxcn,  English,  Swedish,  Danish,  German,  and  Dutch,  a.c 
evidently  derived  from  the  A.  S.  Verb,  Swelgan,  or  Swylgan,  to  swal- 
low;  from  the  manner  in  which  this  bird  devours  .ts  prey.  The 
Greek  is  supposed  to  have  come  either  from  x"^-  »"•"  q"od  ««!. 
Mia  agitet,  vel  quod  x"^-  «»"  labiis  canit.  'l'-/--*-"  '[ 
the  Zn  (from  which  the  Italian  and  French  are  derived)  seem, 
doubtful ;  Littleton  derives  it  from  the  Greek.  Some  say  ah  haerendo, 
from  iU  pendulous  and  adhering  nest.  The  SjmnM  seems  to  have 
(•mc  ponnexion  with  the  Latin  and  Greek. 


44 


AngU-Saxon 

F.ngliih 

Sweditk 

DanUk 

IcelandM 

Nona. 

Teutunick 

German 

Dutch 

haplimdick 

Cnrnkh 

Welch 


Bwalewe 

Gmfc 

Swallow 

Latin 

Svala 

French 

Svalc 

Italian 

Svala 

Sulu 

Spanish 
Portnmitie 

Suaknu 

Schwalbe 

'       Rtuiian 

Zwaluw 

1       Polish 

Swalfo 

Galick 

Tshikuk 

Hangar 

Gwennol 

Turkish 

Hinindo 

Hironddle 

Rondinc,  or 

Rondiiicl'.a. 

OolondriDK' 

Andorinha 

Lastowitu 

laskolka 

Gobhlan 

Fetske 

Garindshu 


Diferent  Names  for  each  particular  Species  of 

Swallow. 


HIRVNDO  RV8TICA. 

LaiiN,  Hirundo  domcstica. 

Frmch,  L'Hirondelle  domestiquc,  or  I'HirondeUe  de  Cheminie. 
Italiain,  La  Rondine  di  Camino. 
Portvgaeu,  A  Andorinha  de  Chammin^. 

Spanish,  La  Golondrina  de  Chimenea.  «  v-.  ii^ 

German,   Ranch   Schwalbe,  Fener    Schwalbe,   Kfichea  Sclwalb*, 
Bauren  Schwalbe,  or  Banem  Schwalbe. 

Swedish,  Ladn  Swala. 

EngliA,  House  Swallow,  or  Chimney  Swallow. 

Galick,  Oobhian-gaoithe. 

Danish,  Mark  Svale,  or  Fontue  Svale. 

Dntch,  Boeren  Zwalaw. 

HIRVNDO  VRBICA. 

Greek,  'awow  wi+iX'*'' 

haim,  Hirundo  ru«tica,  vel  Hirundo  agrestis. 

Frtnch,  VHirondelle  a  cut  Wane,  I'HirondeUe  de  fenfitre,  ou  la 

Martinet. 
Ualim,  la  Rondine  da  fenestra,  or  il  Tartaro. 
Spanish,  Golondrina  de  ventana,  or  Albion  peqneno. 
P«rti(^«««,  Andoriiwdejanella. 
.  G«it»«i,  Haus  Schwalbe,  Fenster  Scbwalbe,  Mehl  Schwtlbe,  Such 
Schwalbe,  or  Berg  Schwalbe.     , 


runds 

■ondclle 

ndinc,  or 

ndiiicl'.a. 

londrina  - 

dorinha 

gtowitza 

ikolka 

bblait 

tske 

xindshu 


Species  of 


tminie. 


ten  ScliwalbC} 


'enktit,  on  La 


chvralbe,  ^ivok 


45 

Duich,  Hni«  Zwalnw,  Wilde  Zwaluw,  or  tentebod«. 

DmiM,  Byi"  Svalc,  or  Tagskiaeg-Svale. 

Sweduk,  Hus  Swala. 

None.  Huus  Sulu. 

English,  Martlet,   Martinet,  Martin,  House  Martin,   or   Window 

Swallow. 
fVtUh,  Marthin. 

HIRVNDO  APVS. 

Greek,  'awbc 

Latin,  Cypselus  major. 

French,  le  Martinet  noir,  Moutardlcr,  or  Ic  Juif. 

IMian,  Rondone  nero,  or  il  Rondone. 

SpanUh,  cl  Venicjo,  Aorejaqne,  or  el  Avion  grande. 

Portugneiie,  O  Gaivao,  or  O  Vencelho. 

Ruuian,  Kasatka. 

Poliih,  lure,  or  lersyk. 

Norte,  Svart  Sulu,  Ring  Sulu. 

Icelandick,  Ring  SvaU. 

Sicedi**,  Ring  Svala,  or  Spir  Svala, 

Danish,  Muur  Svalc,  Stecn  Svale,  Kirk  Svale,  or  Soe  Svale. 

C«nn«.,  MauerS.  .walbe.  Stein  Schwalbe,  Thurm  Schwalbe,  Kirch 

Schw*lbe,  or  Speycr. 
Dutch,  Gier  Zwaluw,  or  Steen  Zwaluw. 
English,  Swift,  Black  Martin,  Black  Swallow,  Squeaker,  DeviUug,  or 

i^brick  Owl. 


HIRVNDO  RIPARIA. 

Anglo-Saxon,  Stttth  Swalewe. 

IVelch,  Gwennol  y  glennydd. 

Galick,' Gobhlan-gainbbich.  «  ,.„.m,    „ 

Gem-a,  Ufer  Schwallie,  Wasser  Schwalbe,  Strand  Schwalbe,  or 

Rhein  Schwalbe. 
Dvtth,  Oever  Zwaluw.  Aard  Zwaluw,  or  Zand  Zwaluw. 
Damifc,  Dig  Svale,  Jord  Svale,  Klint  Svale,  or  Solbakke. 
Nmc.  Sandronne,  Dig  Sulu,  Strand  Sulu,  or  Sand  Sulu. 
Swedish,  Strand  Svala,  or  Back  Svala. 
Russian,  StrisCb,  or  OTanatotshka. 
Ptlith,  Grzebielucha. 


4^ 


frtneh,  rHirona«He  dc  rivagf. 
Italian,  Roiitlim  riparia. 

Armm.  Choll. 


F  ».  N  1  *. 


PRINTf  B  BY  J.  MOYEO,  ,   i#*^ 

tf^*  SS"««.  H"'""  '*»"'*°'  ^*""* 


Shore  Bird. 


la.iii'^' 


y