ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -swallow, any of the approximately 90 species of the bird family Hirundinidae (order Passeriformes). A few, including the bank swallow, are called martins (see martin; see also woodswallow; for sea swallow, see tern).

Detailed explanation-2: -The Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and Tree Swallow can be seen from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast and into northern Canada and Alaska. The Northern Rough-winged Swallow is seen throughout the USA and all of the southern provinces of Canada.

Detailed explanation-3: -They enjoyed shelter, an abundant supply of food, and a good place to live. The prophet Jeremiah also refers to swallows when he contrasts their wisdom and foresight with the foolishness of the people of Israel, who did not know the laws or the judgements of the Lord (Jeremiah 8 v 7).

Detailed explanation-4: -The name ‘swallow’ is a very old one, derived probably from the old English ‘swell’, meaning to swirl, a reference to the bird’s swooping flight, or from the old Norse ‘swala’, meaning a cleft stick, which refers to its tail. The Irish ‘fáinleog’ may come from ‘fán’, meaning wandering or migrating.