(51) 

 T^e hUch Martin or Swift. Hirundo Apus. 



Numb. LV. 



THIS Bird is much bigger than the common Swallow ; its Head is large, 

 the Mouth wide, and the Bill fmall and black, towards the Noftrils 

 broad and depreffed ; its Tongue is broad and fomewhat cloven ; its 

 Noftrils long placed obliquely, obtufe towards the Head, acute towards 

 the Point of the Bill ; its Eyes great, and their Irides of a hazel Colour. 



It hath almoft no Variety or Difference of Colour in the whole 

 Body ; for as well the upper as the lower Side, and alfo the Wings and 

 Tail are black with an obfcure Tindure of redifh brov/n, only under 

 the Chin is a notable Spot of white or Afh-colour. 



It hath in each Wing eighteen quill Feathers, all ending in fharp 

 Points, but efpecially the exteriour ones ; the Tail is about a hand 

 Breadth long, confifting of but ten Feathers, from the middle to the 

 outmoft in order one longer than another ending all in fharp Points. 



Its Legs are very fliort and thick; its Feet very fmall; the Toes are 

 divided from the very Rife ; the gall Bladder is little ; the Stomach not 

 very flefhy, out of v/hich when diffeded we took Beetles and other 

 Infeds. 



It is faid that by reafon of the Length of its Wings and Shortnefs of 

 its Legs, if it happens to alight or fall upon the Ground, it cannot raife 

 it felf up again, but may eafily be caught; wherefore it doth either 

 always fly or lit upon the Tops of Churches, Towers, or other ancient 

 Buildings. 



Its Weight was three quarters of an Ounce and ten Drams ; its Lengthy 

 from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail, {tvtn Inches and a 

 half ; the Diftance between the Wings when extended was fifteen Inches 

 and a half; the Bill three quarters of an Inch, which was alfo the 

 Length of the Legs. 



I found on the Body of this Bird an odd fhaped Infed of the Loufe 

 Kind, different from any I have feen amongfl; our Englip Infeds. 



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