Barn-Swallow 417 



laterally, overhung by a distinct operculum or scale ; tail long, 

 more than half the wing, very strongly forked, the outer feathers atten- 

 uated and about twice the length of the middle ones, all with a white 

 spot on the inner web. Sexes alike ; eggs spotted. 



This genus, containing the typical Swallows, is a large one, and ranges 

 all over the world. Only one species is ordinarily met with in North 

 America, and this is so similar to the common Chimney-Swallow of 

 Europe, that many naturalists do not consider it worthy of more than 

 subspecific separation. 



Barn-Swallow. Hirundo eryihrogastra. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 613 — Colorado Records — AUen 72, pp. 148, 

 156, 162 {H. horreorum) ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Henshaw 75, p. 216 ; Scott 

 79, p. 93 ; Tresz 81, p. 287 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Beckham 85, 

 p. 141 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; H. G. Smith 93, p. 244 

 Cooke 97, pp. 18, 111, 217 ; Dille 03, p. 74; Henderson 03, p. 236 

 09, p. 238 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; OS, p. 24 ; 09, p. 17 ; Gihnan 07, p. 158 

 Markman 07, p. 157 ; Rockwell 08, p. 175 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, 

 p. 121. 



Description. — Male — General colour above dark steely-blue, less 

 glossy and more dusky on the wings and tail ; a white spot on the middle 

 of the inner web of all the tail-feathers, except the central pair ; fore- 

 head, malar region, chin and throat dark cinnamon-rufous, rest of the 

 under-parts pale cinnamon-rufous, sometimes almost white, sometimes 

 nearly as dark as the throat ; a steely dark blue patch on either side 

 of the breast, occasionally narrowly connected to form a complete 

 band ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky horn. Length 6-1 ; wing 

 4-60 ; tail 3-20 ; cuknen -30 ; tarsus -40. 



The female is very similar, sometimes a little paler and smaller ; 

 a yomig bird is much duller with a sooty-black crown and light 

 cinnamon-brown forehead and throat. 



Distribution. — Breedmg throughout the greater part of North 

 America from Alaska and Labrador, south through western Mexico 

 to Guadalajara ; in winter from south Florida, the West Indies and 

 southern Mexico to the Argentine. 



In Colorado the Barn-Swallow is less common than the other Swallows 

 but is still far from rare; it is found all ver the State in suitable locali- 

 ties from the plains to about 10,000 feet. The highest breeding 

 record I have met with is Breckenridge, where it was observed by 

 Carter (Cooke 97), while Allen (72) noticed it flying about at the tops 

 of the mountains near Montgomery in South Park at 12,000 feet. 

 It arrives about the end of April (April 20th at Gold Hill, Gale). 



The following are additional recorded localities : Weld co. (Mark- 

 man), Barr Lakes, common (Hersey & Rockwell), Limon (Aiken), 



DD 



