A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

George Montagu

Date:: 1866

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$says, at p. 7046, that a fine old female Stork was killed at Woodbastwich, about the 17th of May, 1801.] Storm-Cock.—See Petrel, Stormy; Thros- tle ; and Thrush, Missel. Strany.—See Guillemot, Foolish. Strawsmeer.—See Wren, Yellow. [Striated Tem.—See Tern, Striated.] Sula.—See Gannet. [Summer Snipe. — See Sandpiper, Com- mon.] [Summer Teal.—See Garganey.] [Surf Scoter and Surf Scoter Duck.— See Scoter, Surf.] Swabie.—See Gull, Great Black-backed. Swallow.— A genus of birds, the charac- ters of which ai’e : Bill short, broad at the base, the point small and a little bending. Nostrils open. Tongue short, broad, cloven. Tad forked. Wings long. Toes, three forwai’d, one behind. [Swallow, Cape.—See Swallow, Rufous.] Swallow, Car.—See Tem, Black. Swallow, Chimney.— \_Yarrell, ii. 241; Ilewitson, Ixv. 257.] Hirundo rustics, Lin. Syst. i. p. 343, 1; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 1015 ; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 572, 1; Bewick, Br. Birds, i. t. p. 201. Himndo domestica, B,aii Syn. p. 71, A. 1; Will. p. 155, t. 39 ; Bris. ii. p. 486, 1; Ib. 8vo, i. p. 294. Hirondelle de cheminee, Buf. vi. p. 591, t. 25, f. 1. Chim- ney, or Common Swallow, Br. Zool. i. No. 168, t. 68; lb. fol. 90 ; Will. Angl. p. 212, t. 39; Albin, i. t. 45; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 330; Lath. Syn. iv. p. 561; Ib. Sup. p. 192; Lewin, Br. Birds, id. t. 123; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 251; Full. Cat. Dorset, p. 13. -— This species weighs between five and six drams; length six inches and a half. Bid black; irides hazel. Forehead and chin ferruginous-red; crown of the head and the whole upper parts black, glossed with purplish blue ; breast and belly dusky white; the tail is much forked; the two middle feathers plain, the rest maj-ked on theii' inner webs, near the end, with an oval white spot; legs dusky. The female has not the exterior feathers of the tail so long as in the other sex. The Swallow seems to be known in most parts of the world. In England it is a very common bird, coming to us in the spring, and de- parting in September to more mild climates, and is said to winter in Senegal, and pro- bably many other warm countries. It has taken the name of Chimney Swallow with us on account of breeding in our chim- neys. In some countries it makes its nest against rocks; with us it is not unusual to find the nest in outhouses, upon the beams or rafters. The nest is made of mud plas- tered together and lined with feathers, and is open at top. The eggs are four or five in number, white, speckled with rusty red, weighing about thirty grains. The food of this bird, as of the whole genus, is ^\inged insects, in catching which it is extremely dexterous; and, considering the velocity of its flight, the sight must be incomparably quick. It makes its first appearance ■with us in April, sometimes as early as the first week, if the weather is mild ; and it some- times happens that after their arrival a long easterly ■wind prevails, which so be- numbs the insect tribe that thousands die for want of food. We recollect as late as the 9th of May the Swallows on a sudden disappeared from all the neighbouring vil- lages around. The thermometer was at 42, and we were at a loss to conceive what was become of these birds, which a day or two before were seen in abundance. But by chance we discovered hundreds collected together in a valley close to the sea-side, at a large pool which was well sheltered. Here they seem to have found some species of fly, though scarce sufficient to support life; for many were so exhausted that after a short time on wing were obliged to pitch on the sandy shore. Why it should be necessary to account for the loss of this tribe of bii-ds in the winter by maldng them to immerse during that season, is extraordinai'y, when at the same time no doubts have been entertained of the mi- gration of other birds, whose powers on wing are far inferior. And yet there have not been ■wanting persons who have de- clared they have seen them drawn up in nets, and restored from their benumbed state. Others are said to lay torpid in cliffs, hollow trees, and such places: but even tbis more probable account is to be doubted, except perhaps with respect to a few of the latter broods, which had not strength to undertake so long a flight. If we calculate the velocity of this bird on wing, and that it can and does suspend itself in the air for fourteen or sixteen hours together in search of food, it cannot fly over a less space than between two and three hundred miles in that time. We have frequently observed upon the downs Swallows follow, and repeatedly fly round$