121 



SWIFT. 



COMMON SWIFT. SWIFT SWALLOW. BLACK MARTIX. 

 SCREECH. SCREECH MARTIX. SCREAMER. CRAN. SQUEALER. 



MARTLX DU, OF THE AXCIE^T BRITISH. 



Himntlo apus, LixN.^us. PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Cypselus murarius> SELBY. GOULD. 



" apus, JENYXS. 



3Iicropus mui'artus, MEYER. 



Hirundo A Swallow. Apus. Apous Without a foot. 



THE Swallows seem always considered as visitants to us, 

 and are so spoken of accordingly: it seems to me, however, 

 that this is an erroneous designation; for, although absent 

 from us the greater part of the year, it is with us that they 

 build and inhabit their dwellings; and here they rear their 

 young: it is to other countries that they are visitants; our is 

 'their own their native land:' elsewhere they are but sojourners 

 unsettled excursionists destitute of a 'local habitation.' Xo 

 one who knows the meaning of the word 'home,' can doubt 

 for a moment here. 



The Swift is a native of the greater part, if not the whole, 

 of the continent of Africa, as also of that of Europe. It 

 visits Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and Italy, and is 

 known also in Asia Minor and Madeira; Montagu and Meyer 

 say in America also; but I believe this is not the case. 



It is met with in all parts of the United Kingdom; but 

 it seems to be generally thought, and with some reason, that 

 it is less frequent than it used to be. Why it is so, is 

 entirely unknown. In Ireland it is decidedly local. In the 



