The Birds of the Assyrian Monuments and Records. 73 
spoke confusedly like a parrot." There still remain other 
names of the swallow: there is the sum-tsi-tsi yum-u, 
"the day swallow," and the mat-ti-ib-nu tsal-mu, "the night 
swallow," which latter name Dr. Delitzsch thinks may 
refer to the " goat swallow " or " night-jar "; sum-tsi-tsi is 
doubtless the Hebrew shemets (Ypttf), " a sharp quick sound," 
_ another imitative sound, while mat-ti-ib-nu >~<y< *^~) 
may well be compared with the Arabic tdbina (^r^)? "he saw 
acutely," in allusion to the quick sight of the night- jar, 
which can see to catch its insect food quite late in the 
summer evenings. The swallow was also called tsa-pi-tuv. 
This name occurs both in the Accadian and the Assyrian 
columns. I fancy that it is also imitative, and borrowed 
by the Accadians from the Assyrians. The NAM KHU 
, (^<y ^ *~y<y) " destiny bird," of the Chaldean Deluge 
Tablet, phonetically *pyy * — T TT" — ^Ih> si-nun-tuv, is re- 
presented by the Rabbinical word senunitha (NrPJ^P), and 
also denotes a " swallow." The name kha - tsi -ba- ru is 
definitely explained in the fifth vol. of W.A.I., PL 27, 
3 obverse, line 39, by the Accadian KHU rub BA CU GUSUR RA 
(HM 1?=! ^Z^^y E^yy)' tnat ^ s " some insectivorous 
bird, which makes its nest on beams." Another Accadian name 
is KUN GIL (H^'Hfflf 0)' " tne tail-closer." The common 
swallow (Hirundo urbica) seems to be prominently intended 
by the above words ; but other species, as house martins, sand 
martins, &c, are perhaps also included in the name NAM KHU, 
or " destiny bird." The swift also, a bird in general outward 
form resembling a swallow, though not now classed even in 
the same order, probably is included. In Palestine the swift 
is more of a true migrant than the swallow, but in Assyria 
both species are only local summer residents. The common 
swift (Cypselus apus) breeds in certain localities in Persia in 
enormous numbers. From the middle of April till the end of 
October, near the city of Shiraz, the air every fine evening is 
filled with swifts, crossing and recrossing in every direction, 
chasing the insects, which, towards sunset, rise from the tanks 
of water which occupy the middle of every courtyard. " No 
