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from fuch birds confidering themfelves as rather in a defenceless ftate, unless

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That this is the fact, particularly with the 'fwallow tribe, appears by the repeated obfervations of that attentive and ingenious naturalift the Rev. Mr. White.

It is well known that the fwallow and martin have two broods every year, and confequently that their first neftlings must be abandoned by the parents: how therefore are the produce of the first neft to be conducted over the Atlantic from Great Britain and Ireland, to Africa?

How alfo can it be expected, that the fecond brood, which I have known myself to be hatched in October, fhould be equal to fuch a paffage, in which they have no infects to feed upon, and in which they never seem to have been obferved by any fhip at a confiderable diftance from land, or by any person on thore, who can properly affert that they were bent on fuch periodical migration ?

I will here add an obfervation which relates to the fwift only. This bird, by the length of its wings, is certainly better calculated for a long flight than any of the swallow-tribe, and yet it is the latest comer, and difappears the earliest of this whole genus, long before the infects on which it feeds are wanting.

But this is not all. When this bird is first seen in the fpring it is all over of a gloffy dark foot colour (except their chins, which

are white); but by being for a confiderable time in the fun and air, they become weather-beaten and bleached before they difappear.

Now would not this alteration in the colour be occafioned by their paffage over the Atlantic, and do we not know that the quicker the motion is, and the longer continued without intermiffion, the more our own skins and hair are changed; and are we not to fuppofe that the fame effects will be produced on the feathers and hairs of other animals?

I will now beg leave to ftate another objection to the migra tion of fwallows from Europe to Africa, which is, that if this conjecture is true, the fame thing must hold with regard to the Northern and Southern parts of Afia. On the contrary, I am informed, that fwallows hide themselves in the banks of the Ganges during what are called the winter months in that part of the world. Du Tertre likewife mentions, that the few fwallows feen in the Caribbee Iflands are only obferved in the fummer, as in France.

Now we are affured, by Dr. Pallas, that they have not only fwallows in Ruffia and Siberia, but that on the banks of the Okka, which empties itself into the Wolga, in N. Lat. 57, on froft taking place about the 4th of Auguft, they difappeared for that year.

Thefe birds therefore fhould, according to the hypothefis of migration, have been paffing to the more Southern parts of Afia, but I do not find it obferved by any Afiatic traveller that they have

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the fame fpecies of hirundines with us, or that they are only feen in thofe parts during our winter. Between what hath been advanced in the preceding and prefent differtations, the arguments against the periodical migration of fwallows have filled many pages, and it may be right to bring them to a conclufion, by anfwering an objection which is much relied upon by those who maintain the contrary opinion.

It is frequently afked by thefe, where and when the fwallow moults, if this does not happen in parts of the globe to the Southward of Europe.

To this I do not pretend to anfwer by informing them where or when thefe birds change their feathers; but I may equally afk the queftion with regard to nine of the birds out of ten which have been described by naturalifts, because we are entirely uninformed about this matter, except in relation to those which we usually eat, or keep in cages.

It is true, that most, if not all of thefe, commonly moult with great regularity; but it is alfo known that there are often exceptions to every general obfervation or rule; nor do I fee why it is more neceffary that every bird fhould moult, than that every fish fhould not have wings, which would have been moft confidently maintained by the old naturalifts who were unacquainted with the flying fish.

Again, it is part of the known definition of a bird to be an animal covered with feathers, and yet thofe of the caffowary and the filky fowl of the Eaft Indies rather refemble hairs than plu

mage; and this is the cafe fo ftrongly with the latter, that it hath given occafion, to the impofition at Bruffels, where they are fhewn as the mixed breed of a fowl and rabbit.

I therefore do not conceive it

to be abfolutely neceffary that this tribe of birds should change their feathers at all, or perhaps they may do fo only the fecond or third year, and at a time different from that in which other birds moult.

But I will now afk the direct queftion of the partifans of migra tion, whether the feathers are renewed whilft the fwallow-tribe are in Africa during the winter?

Now in all the birds which we are well acquainted with, moulting begins in the autumn; and therefore if fwallows drop their plumage in Africa during the winter, it is nearly as much contrary to what happens in relation to the change of feathers in other birds, as the not being liable to any change at all.

It is not alfo abfolutely impoffible that thefe birds may moult during the time of their concealment, to which the fact already mentioned of the swift's plumage being moft bright and gloffy, when it first appears in the fpring, feems to give fome countenance, and Ariftotle afferts, that this happens to the Tuy (commonly rendered the turtle-dove) whilst it is hid.

How little do we know, with accuracy, in relation to the renewal of our own hair; which I rather believe to be brought about by fuch degrees as to be almost imperceptible; nor are the hair-cutters, or frifeurs, perhaps capable

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HE ifland of Corfica is fituated in the Mediterranean, between 39 and 42 degrees latitude, lying between the island of Sardinia to the fouth, and the coafts of Italy to the north. Its greatest length is from Capo Bonifacio to the fouth, as far as Capo Corso to the north; this makes 160 Italian leagues. Its breadth comprehends 75 of the fame leagues, from Capo Galien to the Weft, as far as the lake Urbino to the Eaft; its whole circumference is reckoned to amount to 225 Italian leagues, This island is divided in ten jurifdictions, and four fiefs, compofing 68 pieves.

By pieves we are to understand a certain number of leagues included under the fame adminiftration, although they are dependent on feveral parishes which compofe each jurifdiction.'

Of thefe ten jurifdictions, fix are on this fide the mountains; thefe are Capo Corfo, Balagna, Calvi, Bafia, Corto, Alleria; and

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three fiefs, namely, Nouza, Brando, and Canary.

The other four jurifdictions are fituated beyond the mountains ; they are Vico, Ajaccio, Sartene, Bonifacio, and the fief of Iftria.

There are five bishopricks in this ifland, Mariana, Nebbio, Alleria, Ajaccio, and Sagorne.

The interior part of the lands is covered with mountains, feveral of which are planted with olive and chefnut trees, and furnish pasture for the flocks; between thefe heights there are many fertile plains; they abound in vines, orange, bergamot, citron, olive, and feveral other fruit trees. Upon the higheft of thefe mountains, which is called Gradanio, are the lake of Cremo and of Dino, at no great distance from each other. From the firft, iffue the rivers of Liamono and Tarignano, one of which flows towards the Weft, and the other in a contrary direction; that of Gaulo, iffues from the lake Dino, and difcharges itfelf into the fea near Mariana. Befide thefe three rivers, the most confiderable in the island, and which, with fome expence, might, be rendered navigable, there are feveral others; thefe are only fmall ftreams, interfecting almoft all the plains, and which would render them till more fertile, if their channels were multiplied.

The little province of Balagna is in every refpect the most abundant of Corfica; that of Cape Corfo, although the most exposed, is very near as good; and all, or almost all of them, require only the labour of the cultivator.

As for the productions, befides. the vines I have mentioned, which yield a white and red wine, that

might with care be made comparable to the wines of Candia, Cyprus, Syracufe, and Malaga; corn might alfo be produced there in great plenty, if the territory were fertilized in a fmall degree; and, norwithstanding the idleness of the inhabitants, nature, in fome meafure too luxuriant, fometimes deceives their indolence, and prefents them with a very abundant harveft. There is no want of cattle; birds of all kinds are to be feen here, and quantities of game, efpecially the red-legged partridge. During the winter a fufficient quantity of them are caught with a net, to furnish feveral towns in Italy. This feafon likewife produces a quantity of black birds, which are in no eftimation any where elfe, but are here very delicate, and much fought after. There is therefore nothing wanting in Corfica with refpect to eatables, except good cooks to drefs all these provifions. But, independent of the articles of primary, neceflity, the arts and commerce would alfo find opportunities to exert themselves.

There are in this country feveral baths, as well hot as cold; mineral waters, ferviceable in all kinds of difeafes; olive trees, which would furnish a confiderable oil trade, and fit to fupply France; mulberry-trees and filk worms, which, with industry and activity, would enable us to do without the filks of Italy; timber for mafts, and fhip-building, which would indemnify us for the lofs of that of Canada; gold, filver, copper, and iron mines; quarries of marble and porphyry; a crystal of the greatest beauty, by the diwerfity of its colours, and which

is formed in the mountain of Borg nano.

In general, the climate of the iland is the fineft in the world. The sky is never darkened two days together. There is fcarce any winter: the heats of the fummer are moderated in the mountains by the North winds; they are more violent in the towns of Baftia, St. Fiorenzo, la Gagliola, Calvi, and Ajaccio. The illneffes to which the troops are fubject, are attributed to the heat of the air; and I believe they proceed rather from want of good water, which thofe places are very deficient in during the fummer, but which might be eafily brought down from the mountains.

From this fhort account, Sir, you will readily judge of the truth of my fpeculations. I will not diffemble, that thefe advantages are counterbalanced by the enormous expences which must be incurred in that ifland, to fecure it from the infults, not only of the natural inhabitants, whom I fuppofe to be subdued, but of foreigners. The extent of its coast, and the facility of landing in feveral places, would require labours, the calculation of which is alarming. Moft of the towns are difmantled, or very imperfectly fortified; the ports either filled up or in bad condition. Corte, formerly the capital of the island, and which ftands almoft in the center of it, at prefent resembles more a village than a city. Baftia is the most remarkable town; feveral works have already begun to be erected there; but the port, in which frigates and armed barks cannot enter, ought to be cleared. On returning to the Western coaft,

we

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we find Fiorenzo, a town in the moft ruinous condition. Its gulph is immenfe, and might contain a prodigious number of fhips; it is more than a league over, and runs three leagues deep into the lands. It is bordered with high mountains, which fhelter it from all kinds of winds except the North-Eaft. The harbour is filled with rocks near the furface of the water, which only admit boats to land. We meet next with la Gagliola, which has a bad road, where none but tartans and feluccas can land: after this comes Calvi, the port of which, though very large, can only receive frigates of a moderate fize: the port of Ajaccio is more convenient, and deeper; fhips may caft anchor there in the midst of the bafon. Bonifacio terminates the point of the Western coast, where there is a little port, good and fecure. At the Eastern coaft we find Porto Vecchio, the most beautiful port of the Mediterranean; the largeft fhips can enter it; but an whole fome air prevails in the city, which has occafioned it to be quite deferted, fince which it has not been poffible to repeople it. Along this coaft, as far as Bastia, which terminates it, we find nothing more than Alleria, almoft deftroyed.

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You may conceive, Sir, how much money it would absorb to render fo many towns and ports, all effential ones, of any ufe; and at which, with more or lefs danger, a foreign enemy might land, and convey fuccours to the revolted natives.

The villages are infinitely more valuable than the towns; they are almost all built upon little moun

tains, and in fituations fortified by nature; all the houses are furnished with battlements, arched ways, and terraces, and, being contiguous, flank and defend each other; fo that each of these places would feem to require a fiege, of which we have had a small specimen in the villages of Barbagia and of Patrimonio.

Another unavoidable expence, which would likewife be enormous, is that of the roads; which it would be neceffary to open throughout the whole ifland: in a word, our engineers, upon a grofs calculation, reckon that two hundred millions must be facrificed to put the island of Corfica in the moft flourishing fituation. There is no doubt but that it would one day repay the expences with intereft; but are we able to form fuch projects at this period? This is a matter that must be referred to our good and wife minifters ; it is certain that every thing announces the defign of preferving this country, by the troops which arrive here every day, and by the eftablishments of all kinds that are forming, as well maritime, as military, and municipal.

The magiftracy will find employment enough here. In 1739, at the time of the first reduction of this ifland by the late Marshal Maillebois, there were already reckoned 28,000 affaffinations com. mitted with impunity. You may judge how many have happened fince that period. It is true that Paoli has eftablished a kind of judicature among his people, but he is not powerful enough to be able to exert it with all the rigour which the ferocity of this people would require. Accordingly, po

pulation

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