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. 1941. Barn Swallow. Head, back & wing coverts, black, glossed with rich purplish blue; forehead, throat & upper part of the breast, chesnut colour; underparts white, a little tinged with russet; tail black; every feather, except the two middle, marked with a white spot. The England Chimney Swallow is like it, according to Latham, except the underside is not red. Latham also says they appear in the Jerseys in April & in New York in May. Hirundo rustica Linn. Hirondelle des Cheminées. Buff. pl. enl. 543. f. 1. That of England build universally in Chimnies, hence they have given it that name. When we [have] an opportunity of comparing those of Europe with these, most probably they will prove to be a different species." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Barn Swallow / Hirundo americana" in American Ornithology vol. 5 (Pl. 38), where "Peale's Museum, No. 7609" was cited (Wilson 1812: 34). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/40/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/42/mode/1up (plate)
A mounted specimen of "Hirundo americana (Barn Swallow)" was listed in "A Catalogue of Duplicate Specimens...", May 1822. [unpublished] American Philosophical Society Library (Mss.B.P31).
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Barn Swallow
Current Scientific Name
Hirundinidae | Hirundo rustica
