An essay on the torpidity of animals / By Henry Reeve.

  • Henry Reeve
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the torpidity of animals / By Henry Reeve. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    58/172 page 44
    Swallows are said to assemble on reeds and on the banks of rivers, and to sing thcii’ swallow song before they dive under water ; but none were ever found in all the rivers and lakes of England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, or Switzerland, al- though fishennenare constantiy employ- ed on these their supposed hiding-places. They assemble in numbers, and are sup- posed voluntarily to become torpid in the month of September; they disap- pear at a time when the temperature of the air is not cold enough to produce any effect upon the tribe of hybernating animals; and besides, it is quite contrary to all reason and experience that these birds should have their respiration and other functions suspended suddenly with- out material injury. Other birds are admitted to migrate, and why should swallows be exempt from
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