134 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Barn Swallow. 



The Barn Swallow {IJiru?ido rustica, Linnaeus) is a well- 

 known summer visitant to the British Isles. It is also a 

 common visitor to Europe during summer, and passes the 

 winter in Ethiopia and India. The adult male has the fore- 

 head and throat rich chestnut; sides of neck, back, wings, 

 and a broad band across breast, deep blue, with purplish 

 reflections; wings and tail, brown, outer webs glossed with 

 bluish-green; all tail-feathers, with the exception of centre 

 ones, have a mesial spot of white; abdomen, light buff; 

 under tail-coverts, pale chestnut; irides, brown; bill, legs, 



