that these birds should have migrated so early from a tropical region, through all these cutting winds and pinching frosts: but it is easy to suppose that they may, like bats and flies, have been awakened by the influence of the sun amidst their secret latebra, where they have spent the uncomfortable foodless months in a torpid state, and the profoundest of slumbers. There is a large pond at Wish-Hanger, which induces these sand-martins to frequent that district. For I have ever remarked that they haunt near great waters, either rivers or lakes. WHITE. Here, and in many other passages of his writings, this very ingenious naturalist favours the opinion that part, at least, of the swallow tribe pass their winter in a torpid state, in the same manner as bats and flies, and revive again on the approach of spring.. I have frequently taken notice of all these circumstances, which induced Mr. White to suppose that some of the hirundines lie torpid during winter. I have seen, so late as November, on a finer day than usual at that season of the year, two or three swallows flying backwards and forwards under a warm hedge, or on the sunny side of some old building; ; nay, I once saw, on the 8th of December, two martins flying about very briskly, the weather being mild. I had not seen any considerable number, either of swallows or martins, for a good while before: from whence, then, could these few birds come, if not from some hole or cavern where they had laid themselves up for the winter? Surely it will not be asserted that these birds migrate back again, from some distant tropical region, merely on the appearance of a fine day or two at this late season of the year. Again, very early in the spring, and sometimes immediately after very cold, severe weather, on its growing a little warmer, a few of these birds suddenly make their appearance, long before the generality of them are seen. These appearances certainly favour the opinion of their passing the winter in a torpid state, but do not absolutely prove the fact; for who ever saw them reviving of their own accord from their torpid state, without being first brought to the fire, and, as it were, forced into life again; soon after which revivification, they constantly die. MARKWICK. SWALLOWS, CONGREGATING AND DISAPPEARANCE OF.*During the severe winds that often prevail late in the spring, it is not easy to say how the hirundines subsist; for they withdraw themselves, and are hardly ever seen, nor do any insects appear for their support. That they can retire to rest, and sleep away these uncomfortable periods, as bats do, is a matter rather to be suspected than proved: or do they not rather spend their time in deep and sheltered vales near waters, where insects are more likely to be found? Certain it is, that hardly any individuals of this genus have, at such times, been seen for several days together. September 13, 1791. The congregating flocks of hirundines on the church and tower are very beautiful and amusing! When they fly off together from the roof, on any alarm, they quite swarm in the air. But they soon settle in heaps, and, preening their feathers, and lifting up their wings to admit the sun, seem highly to enjoy the warm situation. Thus they spend the heat of the day, preparing for their emigration, and, as it were, consulting when and where they are to go. The flight about the church seems to consist chiefly of house-martins, about four hundred in number: but there are other places of rendezvous about the village frequented at the same time. It is remarkable, that though most of them sit on the battlements and roof, yet many hang or cling for some time by their claws against the surface of the walls, in a manner not practised by them at any other time of their remaining with us. The swallows seem to delight more in holding their assemblies on trees.† November 3, 1789.-Two swallows were seen this morning at Newton Vicarage House, hovering and settling on the roofs and out-buildings. None have been observed at Selborne since October 11. It is very remarkable, that after * A correspondent informs me that he has observed that when a large number of swallows have congregated in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, they have suddenly disappeared, but, upon a strong gale of wind arising, they have as suddenly reassembled till the gale was over.-ED. On the 2nd and 3rd of December, 1842, several swallows were seen flying about some of the towers of Windsor Castle; the thermometer then was 48, and the wind S.S. W.-ED. the hirundines have disappeared for some weeks, a few are occasionally seen again; sometimes, in the first week in November, and that only for one day. Do they not withdraw and slumber in some hiding-place during the interval ? for we cannot suppose they had migrated to warmer climes, and so returned again for one day. Is it not more probable that they are awakened from sleep, and, like the bats, are come forth to collect a little food?* Bats appear at al1 * Concerning swallows, the reader will see, that Mr. White appears to incline more and more in favour of their torpidity, and against their migration. Mr. D. Barrington is still more positive on the same side of the question. See his Miscellanies, p. 225. The ancients generally mention this bird as wintering in Africa. See Anacreon, λy. ed. Brunk. p. 38. The Rhodians had a festival called xeλidóvia, when the boys brought about young swallows : the song which they sang may be seen in the works of Meursius, v. iii. p. 974. fol. Ἦλθε, Ήλθε, χελιδὼν καλὰς Ωρας ἄγουσα, καὶ καλοὺς Ενιαυτοὺς Ἐπὶ γαστέρα λευκὰ κ ̓ ἄπι νῶτα μέλαινα. "He comes! He comes! who loves to bear The swallow hither comes to rest His sable wings and snowy breast." And, alluding to this custom, Avienus (who may be considered only as a very bad translator of an excellent poem, the Periegesis of Dionysius,) thus says, v. 705, "Nam cum vere novo, tellus se dura relaxat, Culminibusque cavis, blandum strepit ales hirundo, Gens devota choros agitat!" When the hard earth grows soft in early spring, And on our roofs the noisy swallows sing. From a passage in the Birds of Aristophanes, we learn, that among the Greeks, the crane pointed out the time of sowing; the arrival of the kite, the time of sheep-shearing; and the swallow the time to put on summer clothes. According to the Greek Calendar of Flora, kept by Theophrastus at Athens, the Ornithian winds blow, and the swallow comes, between the 28th of February and the 12th of March; the kite and nightingale appear between the 11th and 26th of March; the cuckoo appears at the same time the young figs come out; thence his name. See STILLINGFLEET's Tracts on Natural History, p. 324. Mr. White says, p. 148, it is strange that rooks and starlings accompany each other: but this is the case with other birds; the short-eared owl often accompanies flights of woodcocks in this country. See PENNANT'S Scotland, i. p. 11. In Greece, the cuckoo migrates with the turtle flocks, thence they call him trigonokractes, or turtle-leader.-MITFORD. seasons through the autumn and spring months, when the thermometer is at 50, because then phalene and moths are stirring. These swallows looked like young ones. WHITE. Of their migration, the proofs are such as will scarcely admit of a doubt. Sir Charles Wager and Captain Wright saw vast flocks of them at sea,* when on their passage from one country to another. Our author, Mr. White, saw what he deemed the actual migration of these birds, and which he has described at p. 78 of his History of Selborne; and of their congregating together on the roofs of churches and other buildings, and on trees, previous to their departure, many instances occur; particularly, I once observed a large flock of house-martins on the roof of the church here at Catsfield, which acted exactly in the manner here described by Mr. White, sometimes preening their feathers, and spreading their wings to the sun, and then flying off all together, but soon returning to their former situation. The greatest part of these birds seemed to be young ones. MARKWICK. WAGTAILS.-While the cows are feeding in the moist low pasture, broods of wagtails, white and grey, run_round them, close up to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing themselves of the flies that settle on their legs, and probably finding worms and larvae that are roused by the trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, that * I have had so many facts sent me of vast flocks of swallows having been seen at sea, and also of their settling on the rigging of ships, that the proofs of their migration cannot be doubted. Indeed I have frequently witnessed their departure from, and, in one instance, their arrival in this country. In the latter case they settled on the ground in Kew Park, about 11 o'clock in the morning, and were so much exhausted, that they suffered me to ride close to them. This was in April. The strong propensity of migratory birds to leave and return at the appointed season, plainly demonstrates that this unvarying principle within them an instinct given them by a beneficent Creator at the very time best adapted for their flight, and which is apparently irresistible. Indeed, they seem to migrate as by a sudden impulse, and neither sooner or later than is expedient, almost at the same time yearly; so that up to the hour of their flight, and as long as it is needful to stay for their preservation, they appear to have no thought of departure.-ED. |