II. FAMILY HIRUNDINIDÆ. THE SWALLOWS.
Plumage compact; size generally small; bill small, much depressed, very wide at base, and suddenly compressed to the tip, giving it a somewhat triangular shape; wings long; tail various, frequently forked; legs and feet short and weak.
These birds form a peculiar and easily-recognized family, species of which inhabit all parts of the world, and in civilized countries are generally regarded with favor. The Swallows are eminently social and gregarious, being almost constantly seen in companies even in the breeding season, and are amongst the comparatively few birds whose numbers are not diminished by the progress of the settlement and cultivation of countries. They subsist exclusively on insects captured on the wing, in the pursuit of which they exhibit extraordinary powers of flight.
A.
1. Genus Hirundo. Linn., Syst. Nat. I. p. 343. (1766.)
Bill depressed, wide at base, compressed to the end, nostrils basal; wing long, pointed, first primary usually longest, secondaries short; legs and feet short and weak; tail moderate, forked or emarginate. General form rather broad, robust; flight protracted, rapid.
1. Sub-genus Hirundo.
Tail with the two external feathers disproportionately long; others graduated.
1. Hirundo rufa. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. p. 1018. (1788.) The Barn Swallow. Hirundo horreorum. Barton, Frag. Nat. Hist. of Penna. p. 17. (1799.) Hirundo americana. Wilson, Am. Orn. V. p. 34. (1812.) Hirundo erythrogaster. Boddaert, Tab. Pl. Enl. p. 45. (1783.)? Hirundo cyanopyrrha. Vieill., Nouv. Dict. XIV. p. 510. (1817.) “Hirundo rustica. Linn.” Aud. Orn. Biog. II. p. 413.
Wilson, Am. Orn. V. pl. 38, fig. 1, 2; Aud., B. of Am. pl. 173, Oct. ed. I. pl. 48; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 29, fig. 64; Buff., Pl. Enl. 724, fig. 1?
Wings long; tail deeply forked with the two outer feathers much the longest; forehead, throat, and neck in front, chestnut, which color is separated from the paler color of the breast by a partial or rarely perfect collar of dark steel blue; entire upper parts steel blue, with a purple lustre, inclining to green on the wings and tail; breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts, chestnut, very pale in some specimens, but generally darker on the tail coverts; tail with a large spot of white on the inner web of every feather, except the middle two; bill and feet black; sexes very nearly alike.
Dimensions. Total length, 7 inches; wing, 4½; tail, 3½. Female smaller.
Hab. Throughout North America. Canada (Dr. Hall); Oregon (Dr. Townsend); Texas (Dr. Woodhouse); Santa Fé (Col. McCall); Indiana (Dr. Haymond); Long Island (Mr. Giraud); Cuba (Mr. Lembeye).