177».
mates, is reftored by plentiful drinking, and the infenfible
A u g u s t . perfpiration likewife goes on without a check, when the
people frequently fhift their linen, and wafh off any
uncleanlinefs that may obftruiit the pores. It is evident that
the greateft danger of putrid diftempers is thus precluded
fitnee the reimbibing of perfpired matter, and the violence
of perfpiration without a frefh fupply to temper and
dilute the faline and cauftic quality of the remaining,
fluids, (which are often fuppofed to be the caufes of inflammatory
fevers) are both in a great meafure prevented
»
The heavy rains of this morning, entirely foaked the
plumage of the poor fwallow, which had accompanied:
us for feveral days paft ; it was obliged therefore to fettle
on the railing of the quarter-deck, and fufiered itfel-f to
be caught. I dried it, and when it was recovered, let
it fly about in the fteerage, where, far from repining at
its confinement, it immediately began to feed upon the
flies, which were numerous there. At dinner we opened:
the windows, and the fwallow retook its liberty ; but about
fix in the evening, it returned into the fteerage and cabin,
being fenfible that we intended it no harm. Having
taken another repaft of flies, it went out again, and roofted
that night fomewhere on the outfide of the veil'd. Early,
the next morning our fwallow returned into the cabin,
once more, and took its breakfaft of flies. Emboldened
. by
by the fhelter which we afforded it, and the little diftur-
bance it fuffered from us, the poor little bird now ventured
to enter the fhip at every port and fcuttle which
was open ; fome part of the morning it pafied very happily
in Mr. Wales’s cabin; but after having left that it
entirely difappeared. It is more than probable that it
came into the birth of fome- unfeeling perfon, who caught
it in order to provide a meal for a favourite eat.
From the hiftory of this bird, which was of the common.
fpecies, or a houfe-fwallow (hirundo rufiica Lin.) we
may deduce the circumftances that bring folitary land-
birds a great way out to fea. It feems to be probable,
that they begin with following a fhip, from the time fhe
leaves the land ; that they are foon loft in the great ocean,
and are thus obliged to continue clofe to the fhip as the
only folid mafs in this immenfe fluid expanfe. If two-
or more fhips are in company, it is alfo eafy to account
for the expreflion of meeting with land-birds at a great dif-
tance from land ; becaufe they may happen to follow fome
other fhip from the fhore, than that which carries the
obferver; thus they may efcape obfervation for a day or
two, or perhaps longer, and when noticed, are fuppofed
to be met with at fea. However, great ftorms are fometimes
known to have driven Angle birds, nay vaft flocks out
to fea, which are obliged to feek for reft on board of
fhips,
.177*.
A u g u s t ,.