HIRUNDO, the au, allow, in natural his tory, a genus of birds of the order Pas sere s. Generic character : bill short, de pressed at the base, small at the point, and a little bending ; nostrils open ; tongue short, broad and cleft ; wings long ; legs short ; tail, in general, forked. These live almost perpetually in the air, and perform in it every act of their na ture. They subsist upon the insects with which that element abounds, and which they catch on the win with the most admi rable dexterity; and for this purpose they are furnished with a most extraordinary power of distending their jaws. The service they perform to man by their in cessant assiduity in this work of destruc tion is not lightly to be appreciated, and those who observe the crowded popula tion of the atmosphere through the beams of a summer evening will easily be led to believe, that, but for the interception of incalculable myriads of insects by these birds,•the annoyance of man by these mi nute animals would be highly distressing, and perhaps almost intolerable. The ce lerity of this tribe of birds is truly aston ishing, and that union of flexibility and speed which they exhibit in pursuit of their prey, or with which they elude the grasp of their enemies, is highly remarka ble and interesting. Their manners are eminently entertaining and social. They fix their nests to the habitations of man, and are not only extremely useful in some respects, but perfectly inoffen sive in all. Though so much within the observation of man, some circumstances of their economy have hitherto complete ly baffled the curiosity of the most vigi lant observer. Various opinions have been formed of the state in which they exist during the time of their disappear ance ; some imagining them to lie torpid, in the banks of rivers, or in decayed trees, or in ruined edifices, or vaults ; and others that they retire for the winter from the air to the water, lying in im mense clusters, like swarms of bees, at the bottoms of rivers. But this notion can no longer deceive ; its absurdity has been demonstrated by several naturalists who have observed for themselves, and not depended upon the vague accounts of the ignorant. It is indeed surprising how
this story could possibly have gained be lief, and a belief so general as it certain ly has commanded, that the swallow, whose powers of flight are equal to those of any other bird, and whose delicate or ganization is so unequivocally intended for the air, should, at the approach of the rigours of winter, precipitate itself into the water, and burrow in the mud. By future naturalists it will be regarded as a proof of the credulity of the times, and will be told with as little gravity as we now observe in relation to the imputed origin of the Barnacle Goose. That na ture does not in this instance deviate from her ordinary laws has been suffi ciently proven, and the fact is satisfacto rily established, that they regularly mi grate in search of congenial climates. They have frequently been seen by mari ners at a vast distance from land, and in very numerous flocks, and have occasion ally converted the rigging and yards of vessels into resting places, which have most conveniently relieved their long and wearisome flight. Mr. Pearson, of Lon don, after one unsuccessful experiment, was enabled to preserveswallows through out the winter, taking extreme care to guard their feet from damp and cold. They were in good health, sang with vi vacity, and accomplished the process of moulting soon after Christmas, without any particular inconvenience, and for three successive years exhibitedthe same vigour, health, and animation. From this experiment it might be presumed, that swallows experience no particular devia tion in constitution and propensities from other birds, and quit this country towards winter for one where they may enjoy a milder climate, and more plentiful food. They are to be met with in every coun try of the world, and in all, or nearly so, are found to be migratory. There are thirty-seven species, of which we shall notice the following.