II.
142. HIRUNDO DOMESTICA. HOUSE SWALLOW.
- Hirundo Rustica. L.
- Hirondelle Domestique. F.
- Schwalbe. T. Swala, Swedish, and Saxon, whence our Swallow: but compare Lecture II., § 44.
- Rondine Comune. I. (note Rondine, the Swallow; Rondone, the Swift).
- Hirundo Rustica. G. and Y.
- Chimney-Swallow. B.
III.
143. HIRUNDO MONASTICA. MARTLET.
- Hirundo Urbica. L.
- Hirondelle de Fenetre. F.
- Kirch-schwalbe. (Church-Swallow.) T.
- Balestruccio. I.
- Chelidon Urbica. D. and G.
- Hirundo Urbica. Martin. Y.
- Martlet, Martinet, or Window-Swallow. Y.
I cannot get at the root of this word, 'Martlet,' which is the really classical and authoritative English one. I have called it Monastica, in translation of Shakspeare's "temple-haunting." The main idea about this bird, among people who have any ideas, seems to be that it haunts and builds among grander masses or clefts of wall than the common Swallow. Thus the Germans, besides Church-Swallow, call it wall,—rock,—roof,—or window, swallow, and Mur-Spyren, or Munster Spyren. (Wall-walker? Minster-walker?) But by the people who have no ideas, the names 'town' and 'country,' 'urbica' and 'rustica,' have been accepted as indicating the practical result, that a bird which likes walls will live in towns, and one which is content with eaves may remain in farms and villages, and under their straw-built sheds.
My name, Monastica, is farther justified by the Dominican severity of the bird's dress, dark gray-blue and white only; while the Domestica has a red cap and light brown bodice, and much longer tail. As far as I remember, the bird I know best is the Monastica. I have seen it in happiest flocks in all-monastic Abbeville, playing over the Somme in morning sunlight, dashing deep through the water at every stoop, like a hardcast stone.
IV.
144. HIRUNDO RIPARIA. BANK MARTLET.