. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. 224 BARN SWALLOW. fi^ w I -J ; I.' T^VTT â /;'»;v-. solvcR, fttid Heomcd much strengthened by it. One day Mr. Pearson observed that tlicy wont into fhc water witli unusual oaj»ornesM, hurry- ing in and out again repeatedly with such swiftness as if they had been suddenly seized with a frenzy. Heing anxious to see the result, ho left thoin to tliemselves about half an hour, and going to the cage again found them all huddled together in a corner apf)arcntly dead; the eago was then pla
. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. 224 BARN SWALLOW. fi^ w I -J ; I.' T^VTT â /;'»;v-. solvcR, fttid Heomcd much strengthened by it. One day Mr. Pearson observed that tlicy wont into fhc water witli unusual oaj»ornesM, hurry- ing in and out again repeatedly with such swiftness as if they had been suddenly seized with a frenzy. Heing anxious to see the result, ho left thoin to tliemselves about half an hour, and going to the cage again found them all huddled together in a corner apf)arcntly dead; the eago was then placed at a proper distance from the fire, when only two of them recovered and were as healthy as beforeâthe rest died. The two remaining ones were allowed to wash themselves occasionally for a short time only ; but their feet soon after became swelled and inflamed, which Mr. P. attributed to their perching, and they died about Christmas. Thus the first year's experiment was in some measure lost. Not dis- couraged by the fuluro of this, Mr. P. determined to make a second trial the succeeding year, from a strong desire of being convinced of the truth of tlieir going into a state of torpidity. Accordingly the next Bcason having taken some more birds he put them into the cage, and in every respect pursued the same methods as with the last; but to guard their feet from tht' bud effects of the damp and cold bo covered the perches with flannel, and had the pleasure to observe that the birds throve extremely well; they sung their soug during the winter, and soon after Christmas began to moult, which they got through without any difficulty, and lived three or four years, regularly moulting every year at tlie usual time. On the renewal of their feathers it ajipeaied that their tails were forked exactly the same as in those birds which return hither in the spring, and in every respect their appearance was the same. These birds, says Mr. Pearson, were exhibited to the Society for Pro-
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectois
