Hirundo 101 



short this little bird is rare. The Apodes, which some 

 call Cypselli, are like Hirundines, as has been said 

 before, for they are not to be distinguished from the 

 Hirundo, save by having hairy legs. The nest which 

 they construct looks like a little basket formed of mud 

 somewhat drawn out, an entrance of the straitest 

 opening beneath ; and this they place in cracks withih 

 the rocks and caves, that they may avoid both beasts 

 and men. 



PLINY. 



The birds which, because they cannot use their feet, 

 are called Apodes, live chiefly on the wing. They 

 are named Cypselli by some, in aspect they are like 

 Hirundines. They nest in crags. These are they 

 which are seen on all parts of the sea, nor do 

 ships ever leave the land upon so long or so con- 

 tinuous a course but that the Apodes still fly around 

 them. The other kinds alight and settle, but for 

 these there is no rest save in their nests alone, they 

 either hang or lie. So far Pliny and Aristotle. 



Now Aristotle makes only three kinds of Hirundines, 

 those of the house, the Apodes and the Falculae. Yet 

 Pliny seems to make four kinds, those of the house, the 

 Rusticae, the Apodes, and the Ripariae. If that be true, 

 our House Swallows, well known from their blood-coloured 

 breast, will be the first-named kind. Those very large and 

 black Swallows, that mostly fly in flocks, appear to form the 

 second kind. Those Swallows which make nests upon the 

 tops of towers, and in lofty church windows, constitute 

 the third. And the Ripariae or Falculae will be the fourth. 

 But should the said division not approve itself, then to the 

 first-named kind may be referred those Swallows which in- 

 variably build on the houses of the country people. Two 

 patches of a blood colour, which one may see on each side 



