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’The Greateft Martin or Swift. 
HIS Bird in Shape is like the common Black Martin or Swift ; but I believe 
twice the Bignefs ^ the Head fomething flat, and pretty broad, the Bill fmall, 
the Slit of the Mouth deep, reaching under the Eyes^ the Neck flioit, the Wings very 
long, the Tail of a moderate Length. This Plate Ihews the Bird of its natural Bignefs, 
or rather lefs, if it differs from the Truth, the Bird being dry"d with the Body remain^ 
ing in the Skin ; the Bill is black, a little hooked at the Point ; the upper Side of the 
Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail, are of a dirty brown Colour ; the Back and Rump" 
however, are fomething lighter, tho' of the fame brown Colour ; the outer or firft 
Quills are of a darker Brown than the other Parts, which happens in mofl Birds ; the 
infide of the Quills, and under-fide of the Tail, are of a fainter Brown inclining to 
Afh-colour ; from the Bill, downward, the Throat is white ; on the lower Part of the 
Neck it hath a Bar of Brown fpotted with Black, in form of a Collar; the Breafl and 
Belly are white; the Thighs, lower Belly, and Covert-feathers under the Tail, are of 
a light Brown, or rather dirty White; the Sides of the Breafl and' Belly, near the 
Wings, are mixed a little with brown Marks, the Edges of Ibme of the Feathers being 
Brown ; the Legs are fhort, and cover'd with fine dov/ny Feathers of a light Colour ; 
the Toes, four in Number, leem'd to ftand all forward, of a black Colour, as are the 
Claws. This Bird fo nearly refembles the Leffer Martin^ call'd the Sand or Bank 
Marthij that the Defeription of the one might almofl ferve for the other, fave that this 
is as large as a Black-Bird^ or very near it, and that very little bigger than a Wren. 
I had this Bird of Mr. Catesby.^ who has obliged me with many new and curious 
Birds to draw after. It was fhot on the Rocks of Gibraltar.^ by a Brother of Mr. 
Catesbys.^ who refided fome time there. Gibraltar being fo near to Africa.^ 'tis pro- 
bable the Birds of Palfage may pafs in Flocks from Europe to Barbary^ and from thence 
to Europe at certain Seafons. It would be worthy the Obfervation of Englijh Gen- 
tlemen who refide there, to take particular Notice if there be any fuch PalTagcs there, 
and whaf Birds they are that pafs, and at what Seafons they go Southward.^ and at what 
Times they return Northward^ which might give fome Light to the palling of Birds, 
which at prelent we know very little of. It is hardly to be thought that Land Birds 
ihould choofe wide Seas to pals oyer, when fo Ihort a Cut is to be found. 
