SWIFT.
MARTHIN 1)1, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH.
COMMON SWIFT. SWIFT SWALLOW. BLACK MARTIN.
SCREECH. St: RE EC II MARTIN. SCREAMER.
CKAN. SQUEALER.
Sirundo afi$ts, LINNAEUS. PENNANT. MONTAGU.
CjfpseUu murarius, SILBT. GOULD.
Cypselus apus, JENYNS.
Micnpus murarius, MEYER .
Brachypus murarius, MEYER.
Hirundo—A Swallow. Apus. Apmts—Without a fool.
THE Swallows appear to he always considered as visitants to us,
and. are so spoken of accordingly: it seems to i n e , however, that this
is an erroneous designation of them, for, although absent from us the
greater part of the year, it is with us that they build and inhabit
their dwellings, and here they rear their young: it is to other countries
that they are visitants: ours is 'their own, their native land;'elsewhere
they arc but sojourners, unsettled excursionists, destitute of a 'local
habitation.' No one who knows the meaning of the word 'Home'
can doubt for • moment here!
The Swift is a native of the greater part, if not the whole, of the
continent of Africa, as also of that of Europe. It visits Denmark,
Norway, Sweden. Lapland, and Italy, and is known also in Asia Minor
and Madeira; Montagu and Mever sav in America also; but I believe
this is not the case.
It is met with in all parts of the United Kingdom; but it seems to
be generally thought, and with some reason, that it is less frequent than
it used to be. Why it is so, is entirely unknown, except so far as it
may be accounted for by their wanton destruction by ignorant shooters.