RED-RU.MPED SWALLOW. 25I 



young have to be taught to fly, but I have disturbed many 

 fledged birds which have never left the nest before, and seen 

 them dash out, and after blundering for a second or two, fly 

 well after their anxiously twittering parents. For some time 

 they need rest at intervals ; their parents feed them as they 

 perch on branches or buildings, and often in the air. They 

 roost in the nest until it is needed for another brood. As 

 autumn approaches these young birds, distinguished by their 

 shorter tails, gather on trees, rope the telegraph wires and line 

 the roof-trees of buildings in large numbers. Thence they take 

 short flights, as if testing their wing-power, and gradually flock 

 after flock moves off southward. 



The adult Swallow is steel-blue above with greenish gloss on 

 wings and tail ; most of the tail feathers have an oval white 

 spot. The forehead and throat are rich chestnut, and below 

 the latter is a band of blue ; the rest of the under parts are buff. 

 The bill and legs are black, the irides brown. The sexes are 

 practically alike, though the tail of the female is usually a little 

 shorter. The colours of the young(Plate ioi,back fig.) are duller, 

 the bands narrower and the tail noticeably short. Length, 

 7*3 ins. Wing, 5 ins. Tarsus, '5 in. 



Red-rumped Swallow. Hirundo rufula Temm. 



The Red-rumped Swallow, distinguished from our bird by its 

 chestnut rump and entirely buff, slightly streaked, under parts, 

 also by a narrow chestnut streak above the eyes which widens 

 into a collar on the nape, is a western Asiatic species. It also 

 breeds in Greece, possibly in Italy, and in parts of northern 

 Africa. ' As a visitor it has been met with in Italy and southern 

 France, and once in Heligoland. In June, 1906, three at least 

 wandered to Fair Island, where one was shot, and it has since 

 then been recorded for Kent. Length, 7*5 ins. Wing, 4'55 ins. 

 Tarsus, "55 in. 



