That morning
was rather chilly, with the wind at north-west; but the tenor of the
weather for some time before had been delicate, and the noons
remarkably warm. From this incident, and from repeated accounts
which I meet with, I am more and more induced to believe that
many of the swallow kind do not depart from this island; but lay
themselves up in holes and caverns; and do, insect-like and bat-
like, come forth at mild times, and than retire again to their
latebrae. Nor make I the least doubt but that, if I lived at
Newhaven, Seaford, Brighthelmstone, or any of those towns near
the chalk-cliffs of the Sussex coast, by proper observations, I
should see swallows stirring at periods of the winter, when the
noons were soft and inviting, and the sun warm and invigorating.
And I am the more of this opinion from what I have remarked
during some of our late springs, that though some swallows did
make their appearance about the usual time, viz., the thirteenth or
fourteenth of April, yet meeting with an harsh reception, and
blustering cold north-east winds, they immediately withdrew,
absconding for several days, till the weather gave them better
encouragement.
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