550 



SWIFT SWALLOW. 



Class II. 



4. Swift. Hirundo Apus. H. nigricans, 

 gula alba, digitis omnibus 

 quatuor anticis. Lath. Ind. 

 orn. 582. id. Syn. iv. 584. 



La grande Hirondelle, Mou- 

 tardier ou grand Martinet. 

 Belon av. 377- 



Apus. Gesner av. l6f). 



Aldr. av. ii.312. 



Black Martin, or Swift. Wil. 

 orn. 214. 



Mail Syn. av. 72. 



Rondone. Zinan. 47- 



Le Martinet. Brisson av. ii. 



514. Hist, d'ois. vi. 643. 



PI. Enl. 542. f. 1. 

 Hirundo Apus. Gm. Lin. 



1020. 

 Ring-swala. Faun. Suec. sp. 



272. 

 Steen, Kirke-v. Ssee-Svale. 



Br. 2Q2. 

 Speyer, grosse thurn schwalbe. 



Kram. 380. Scopoli, No. 



251. 

 Br. Zool. 97. Arct. Zool. ii. 



130. 



THIS species is the largest of our swallows; 

 but the weight is most disproportionately small 

 to its extent of wing ; the former being scarcely 

 one ounce, the latter eighteen inches ; the 

 length near eight inches. The feet of this bird 

 are so small, that the action of walking and of 

 rising from the ground is extremely difficult; 

 so that nature hath made it full amends, by fur- 

 nishing it with ample means for an easy and 

 continual flight. It is more on the wing than 

 any other swallows; its flight is more rapid, 

 and that attended with a shrill scream. It rests 

 by clinging against some wall, or other apt 

 body; from whence Klein styles this species 

 Hirundo muraria. It breeds under the eaves 



