( 2 7 ) 
The Greatefl Martin or Swift, 
r ]p H I S 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 fhort, the Wings very 
long, the Tail of a moderate Length. This Plate fhews 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 3 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 firfl: 
Qnills are of a darker Brown than the other Parts,, which happens in moft Birds; the ■ 
infide of the Quills, and nnder-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 th c 
Neck it hath a Ban of Brown fpotted with Black, in form of a Collar; the Bread: and 
Belly are white; the Thighs, lower Belly, and Covert-feathers under the Tail, are o f. 
a light Brown, or rather dirty White; the Sides of the Bread: and Belly, near the 
Wings, are mixed a little with brown Marks, the Edges of fome of the Feathers being 
Brown; the Legs are Abort, and cover’d with fine downy Feathers of a light Colour; 
the Toes, four in Number, feem’d to ftand all forward, of a black Colour, as are the 
Claws. This Bird fo nearly refembles the Lejjer Martin, call’d the Sand or Bank 
Martin, that the Defcription 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 f'Wren'. 
I had this Bird of Mr. Catefby, vr\\o> has obliged me with many new and curious 
Birds to draw after. It was {hot on the Rocks of Gibraltar , by a Brother of Mr. 
Catejbfs, who redded fome time there. Gibraltar being fo near to Africa, ’tis pro¬ 
bable the Birds of Paffage may pafs in Flocks from Europe to Barbary , and from thence 
to Europe at certain Seafons. It would be worthy the Obfervation of Englijh Gentle¬ 
men who refide there, to take particular Notice if there be any fuch Paffages there, and 
what 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 pafiing of Birds, 
which at prefent we know very little of. It is hardly to be thought that Land Birds 
fhould choofe wide Seas to pafs over, when fo {hort a Cut is to be found, 
The 
