APPENDIX. 1 99 



with cotyles or capsules, but recollect simply 

 that Hirundo, 'x^e\LS(ov, swallow, schwalbe, 

 "and hirondelle, are in each language the suf- 

 ficing single words for the entire Hirundine 

 race. 



VI. 



146. HIRUNDO ALPINA. ALPINE SWIFT. 



Hirundo Melba. L. 



Le grand Martinet a Ventre Blanc. F. 



Cypselus Melba. G. 



Cypselus Alpinus. Y. 



Alpine Swift,— White-bellied Swift. Y. 



Not in Bewick. 



I cannot find its German name. The 

 Italians compare it with the sea-swallow, 

 which is a gull. What ' Melba ' means, or 

 ever meant, I have no conception. 



The bird is the noblest of all the swallow 

 tribe — nearly as large as a hawk, and lives 

 high in air, nothing but rocks or cathedrals 

 serving it for nest. In France, seen only near 

 the Alps ; in Spain, among the mountains of 

 Aragon. " Almost every person who has had 

 an opportunity of observing this bird speaks 



