Abstract
Jonathan Swift was very interested in his own name. More precisely, he seems to have looked up what a ‘swift’ was in Francis Willughby’s Ornithology (1678) and come across the following: This is the biggest of all Swallows we have hitherto seen. It hath a great Head, a huge wide mouth; but a very small black Bill, (wherein it agrees with the Churn-Owl) towards the Nosthrils broad and depressed. Its Tongue is broad, and somewhat cloven: Its Nosthrils long, placed obliquely, obtuse toward the Head, acute toward the point of the Bill: Its Eyes great, and their Irides of a hazel colour. It hath almost no variety or difference of colour in the whole body: For as well the upper as the lower side, and also the Wings and Tail are black, with an obscure tincture of green, or red: Only under the Chin is a notable spot of white or ash-colour.1
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