Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 38. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 38th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1945. Aculcated, or Chimney Swallow. The plumage generally Sooty Brown, a little lighter on the throat; all the tail feathers terminated by naked sharp point. This is a female. Hirundo pelaisgia Linn. Hirondelle à queue pointue de la Louisiane Buff. pl. enl. 726. f. 2. Inhabit North America generally. Build in chimnies, forming a curious nest, with bits of small sticks, cemented by Peach-tree gum. It is open at the top and forms about 1/3 of a circle. They stick close to the chimney wall with their feet, and support themselves by applying their sharp tail to the sides, and often make a thundering noise, by flying up and down the funnel." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Chimney Swallow / Hirundo pelasgia" in American Ornithology vol. 5 (Pl. 39), where "Peale's Museum, No. 7663" was cited (Wilson 1812: 48). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/56/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/57/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Chimney Swift
Current Scientific Name
Apodidae | Chaetura pelagica
