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 he 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 {Hirundo urbica, Linn^us.) 
*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. — Ib. pi. EnL 
p. 542. f. 2. — Hirondelle de Fenetre, Temm. Man. d’Orn. 1. p. 428. — Houssch™ 
walbe, Bechst. Naturg. Dent. 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.— Alhin, 2. t. 56. — Lewin’s Br. Birds, 3. t. 123 — Will. (Angl.) p. 
212. t. 39.^ — Lath. Syn. 4. p. 564. 3.—Ib. Supp. p. 192.— Mont. Orn. Diet - 
zs. Supp, — Wale. Syn. 2. t. 251. — Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 13. — Bewick’s Br. Birds, 
1. 1. 261. — Loire’s Fauna Oread, p. 73. — Shaw’s Zool. 1. p. 84. — Flem. Br. Anim. 
p. 61.— 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 ; hill 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 clilfs 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.” ‘ 
However plausible this mode of making building-mortar may ap- 
* Holland’s Pliny, p. 288. 
