The black Martin or Swift. Hirundo Apus.
Numb. LV,
THIS Bird is much bigger than the common Swallow; its Head is large;
the Mouth wide, and the Bill fmall and black, towards the Noftrils
broad and deprefled; its Tongue is broad and fomewhat cloven ; its
Noftrils long placed obliquely, obtufe towards the Head, acute towards-
the Point of the Bill; its Eyes .great, and their Irides of a hazel Colour.
It hath almoft no Variety or Difference of Colour in the whole
Body; for as well the upper as the lower Side, and alfo the Wings and
Tail are black with an obfcure Tinfture of rediih brown, only under
the Chin is a notable Spot of white or Aih-colour.
It hath in each Wing eighteen quill Feathers, all ending in iharp
Points, but' elpecially the exteriour ones; the Tail is about a hand
Breadth long, confifting of but ten Feathers, from the middle to the-
outmoft in order one longer than another ending all in iharp Points.
Its Legs are very Ihort and thick; its Feet very imall; the Toes are
divided from the very Rife ; the gall Bladder is little; the Stomach not
very fleihy, put of which when difie&ed we took Beetles and other
Infe&s.
It is faid that by reafon of the Length of its Wings and Shortnefs of
its Legs, if it happens to alight or fall upon the Ground, it cantiot raife
it felf up again, but may eafily be caught; wherefore it doth either
always fly or fit upon the Tops of Churches, Towers, or other ancient
Buildings.
Its Weight was three quarters of an Ounce and ten Drams; its Length,,
from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail, feven Inches and a
half; the Diftance between, the Wings when extended was fifteen Inches
and a half; the Bill three quarters of an Inch, - which was alfo the:
Length of the Legs.
I found on the Body of this Bird an odd ihaped Infe£t of the Loufe:
Kind, different from any I have feen amongft our Englijh Infe£ts*.
m .