Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/226

SVEABOBG 184 SWAMPSCOTT in 1849, and there are an arsenal, docks, slips, and a monument to the "father" of the fortress. The fortifications were be- trayed into the hands of the Russians by the Swedish commandant in 1808. It was captured by Finnish forces after the Russian revolution of 1917. Pop. about 1,000. SVENDSEN, JOHAN SEVERIN, a Swedish composer; born in Christiania, Norway, Sept. 30, 1840. He studied at Leipsic, Paris, and in Italy, conducted concerts in his native town and in 1883 became master of the Chapel Royal, Co- penhagen. His works comprise sym- phonies, an overture, and quai-tets, quin- tets, and concertos for strings. SVERDRUP, OTTO, a Norwegian ex- plorer, born in the District of Helgeland, in 1855. At the age of 17 he began his career at sea, and for a time commanded a merchant vessel. In 1888 he joined Nansen's expedition to Greenland, and in 1893 started with that explorer to the North Pole as commander of the Fram. He remained with this ship when it was abandoned by Nansen in 1895, and reached Norway by drifting through the ice in the years following. From 1898 to 1902 he led another expedition in the Fram in an attempt to circumnavigate Greenland. This he found impossible, but continued his explorations, and made discoveries of great value. These in- cluded Heiberg and Ringnes Land. In 1914 and 1915 he commanded an expedi- tion for the relief of missing Arctic ex- plorers. He wrote "New Land: Four Years in the Arctic Regions" (1904). SWAHILI, the name given to the people of Zanzibar and the opposite coast belonging to the Bantu stock, with an Arab infusion, and speaking a Bantu tongue modified by Arabic. The Swahili are intelligent and enterprising, and are in demand as porters by travelers into Central Africa. There is a collection of Swahili folk tales (1869) and a hand- book by Bishop Steere (1871) ; and a dictionary by Krapf (1882). SWAIN, JOSEPH, an American edu- cator; born in Pendleton, Ind., June 16, 1857 ; was graduated at the Indiana Uni- versity in 1883, and taught there first as instructor in biology, then as assistant Professor of Mathematics in 1883-1886. and finally as full professor in 1886-1891. He was called to fill a chair in the Leland Stanford University in 1891, and contin- ued there till 1893, when he was made president of the Indiana University. He is the author of numerous scientific pa- pers and has been prominent in connec- tion with various educational organiza- tions. He has been president of Swarthmore since 1902. President of thi National Educational Association 1913- 1914. SWALLOW, in ornithology, any one of the numerous passerine birds of the family Hirundinadse. In the United States the best known species are the barn swallow; the cliff, eaves, or chim- ney swallow; the white bellied or tree swallow, and the bank swallow. The species usually described by naturalists as the type of the family is Hirundo rus- tica, a well-known European visitor, whose arrival from Africa (usually about the middle of April) is eagerly looked for as a sign of approaching sum- mer. Swallows usually arrive in pairs — a male and a female — though several pairs often form a small flight. They return with unfailing regularity to their old haunts, and in May commence build- ing their nests. The eggs, from four to six in number, are white, spotted with a purple-red. The food of the swallow con- sists entirely of winged insects. These are captured as the birds fly with open mouth, the bristles with which the gap is supplied and the viscid saliva assist- ing to retain the prey. Like owls, swal- lows reject the undigested portions of their food in small pellets or castings. The male is about 8 inches long, beak black, forehead, chin, and throat, chest- nut; head, neck, back, rump, and upper tail coverts steel-blue; tail very much forked; under surface buff'y-white, legs and toes slender and black, claws black and sharp. In the female the tail feath- ers are not so long. SWALLOW SHRIKE, in ornithology, a popular name for any individual of the family Artamidaz. They resemble swallows in their actions and general mode of life, while in the shape of their bills they exhibit great affinities to some of the shrikes and crow shrikes. SWAMP DEER, in zoology, the Rttcer- vus duvaucelli, from India and Assam. It is about 4 feet in height, rich light yellow in color, and congregates in large herds in moist situations. The antlers are large, with a long beam, which branches into an anterior continuation of the main portion, and a smaller posterior tyne which is bifurcated. SWAMPSCOTT, a town of Massachu- setts, in Essex co. It is on the Boston and Maine railroad. From its attractive situation it is a favorite summer resort. Fishing is an important industry. There are parks, and a public library. It is