Swash and Alternate Characters
http://www.itcfonts.com/Ulc/2911/SwashAltCharacters.htm

Strizver, Ilene
Upper and lowercase Magazine
2003

Abstract:

Are you looking for a way to add flair to a typographic treatment? Try using swash characters. These extremely decorative letters have a flourish or extended stroke at the beginning or the end of the character. They are almost always capitals, and you’ll frequently find one used as an eye-catching initial letter at the beginning of a paragraph, chapter or article.