SWALLOWS. 191 



As to the quotations, it is difficult to say precisely 

 which species of hirundo Virgil might intend, in the 

 lines in question, since the ancients did not attend to 

 specific differences, like modern naturalists ; yet some- 

 what may be gathered, enough to incline me to sup- 

 pose, that, in the two passages quoted, the poet had 

 his eye on the swallow. 



In the first place, the epithet garrula suits the 

 swallow well, who is a great songster, and not the 

 martin, which is rather a mute bird, and when it 

 sings, is so inward as scarce to be heard. Besides, 

 if tignum in that place signifies a rafter, rather than 

 a beam, as it seems to me to do, then I think it must 

 be the swallow that is alluded to, and not the martin, 

 since the former does frequently build within the roof, 

 against the rafters, while the latter always, as far as 

 I have been able to observe, builds without the roof, 

 against eaves and cornices. 



As to the simile, too much stress must not be laid 

 on it ; yet the epithet nigra speaks plainly in favour 

 of the swallow, whose back and wings are very black; 

 while the rump of the martin is milk-white, its back 

 and wings blue, and all its under part white as snow. 

 Nor can the clumsy motions (comparatively clumsy) 

 of the martin well represent the sudden and artful 

 evolutions, and quick turns, which Juturna gave to 

 her brother's chariot, so as to elude the eager pursuit 

 of the enraged ^Eneas. The verb sonat also seems 

 to imply a bird that is somewhat loquacious *. 



" Nigra velut magnas domini cum divitis sedes 

 Pervolat, et pennis alta atria lustrat hirundo, 

 Pabula parva legens, nidisque loquacibus escas : 

 Et nunc porticibus vacuis, nunc humida circum 

 Stagna sonat" 



As the dark swallow in a splendid hall, 

 With gloomy pinions flits along each wall, 



