THE SWALLOW TRIBE. 349 



bird call the swift, for the eye can hardly follow 

 his rapid motion. In Palestine it is termed Hadji 

 or Pilgrim, and being the largest and the most 

 conspiciiotis of the swallow tribe in that land, it 

 is the type of the heraldic martlet, originally 

 applied in the science of blazon, as the especial 

 distinction of a pilgrim crusader, which was, 

 doubtless, borrowed from Oriental nations. This 

 is probably the bird alluded to by the Psalmist, 

 when longing for the communion of Avorship in 

 the sanctuary of Israel, he exclaimed, " Yea, the 

 sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow 

 a nest for herself, where she may lay her young; 

 even thine altars, Lord of Hosts, my King, and 

 my God." 



The swift lives on the wing; eats, drinks, and 

 collects materials for its nest on the wing, never 

 resting except during darkness, and when the 

 family duties demand a patient sitting. Its nest 

 is made in holes in steeples, or under the eaves of 

 the old house, or church, or turret ; and two eggs, 

 white as ivory, are deposited in it. In France the 

 bird is termed Martinet de IfuraiUe, and in Paris 

 and some other places, it is called Le Juif. 



Our jet-black bird seems to pass a busy life 



