550 



WINDOW SWALLOW. 



in question, were all other distinctions wanting-. Myriads of Willocks 

 and razor-bills resort to the lofty promontories of the southern as well 

 as the northern shores of Great Britain ; and, when these retire, not a 

 lesser guillemot or a black-billed auk are to be seen in their place for 

 a month or six weeks, and then a few stragglers only, for they are 

 never common in the south of England.* 



WILLOW LARK.— A name for the Sedge-Bird. 

 WILLOW WREN. — A name for the Hay-Bird. 

 WINDHOVER.— A name for the Kestrel. 

 WINDLE. — A name for the Redwing. 

 WINDOW SWALLOW (ffirundo urbica, Linnjeus.) 



*Hirundo urbica, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 344. 3 Gmel, Syst. 1. p. 1017. sp. 3 — Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 2. p. 573. sp. 3 Fauna Suec. 1. No. 271. 1 — Hirundo rustica sive 



agrestis, Raii, Syn. p. 71. A. 2. — Will. p. 155. t. 39— Briss. 2. p. 490. 2 — 

 Hirondelle a Cul-blanc ou de Fenetre, Buff. Ois. 6. p. 614. t. 25. — lb. pi. Enl. 

 p. 542. f. 2.— Hirondelle de Fenetre, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p. 428 — Houssch- 



walbe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. p. 915 Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 277. 



Frisch, t. 17. f. 2 Martin, or Martlet, Br. Zool. 1. No. 169 Arct. Zool. 2. 



No. 331.— Albin, 2. t. 56 Lewin's Br. Birds, 3. t. 123 — Will. (Angl.) p. 



212. t. 39 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 564. 3 lb. Supp. p. 192.— Mont. Orn. Diet — 



lb. Supp.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 251.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 13.— Bewick's Br. Birds, 



1. t. 261 IWs Fauna Oread, p. 73. — Shaw's Zool. 1. p. 84. — Flem. Br. Anim. 



p. Ql.—Selby, pi. 42. fig. 2. p. 129.* 



This species is rather inferior in size to the chimney swallow. The 

 length is about five inches and a half ; bill black ; irides hazel ; the 

 whole upper parts are of a glossy blue black, the rump excepted, which, 

 within the under parts from chin to vent, is white ; the tail is blue- 

 black, and forked ; the legs are covered with a white down ; the claws 

 white. This well-known species visits England in the spring, rather 

 later than the common swallow. It first makes its appearance in low, 

 warm situations, and, if the weather is fine, begins building early in 

 May. The nest is generally placed under the eave of a house ; some- 

 times against rocks or cliffs contiguous to the sea. It is built with 

 mud externally, and lined with feathers, with a small hole on one side 

 for entrance. 



* The ancient account of the Window Swallow's nest, given by Pliny, 

 runs thus : " Surely in no one thing is the wit of sillie birds more 

 admirable. The swallows frame their nests of clay and earth, but they 

 strengthen and make them fast with straw. In case at any time they 

 cannot meet with soft and tough clay, for want thereof they drench 

 and wet their feathers with good store of water, and then bestrew them 

 over with dust." 1 



However plausible this mode of making building-mortar may ap- 



1 Holland's Pliny, p. 288. 



