414 CHARACTERS OF WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW 



Hirundo prasina, Licht. "Preis-Verz. Mex. Viig. 1830,2"; J. f. 0.1803, 58 (quotes ''viridia 



Wi's.'). 

 Hiroudollc bifolore, V. 1. c. 



Black and White Swallow, StephA.c. (—McolorV.). 

 Greeii-bluc Swallow, Stcph. 1. c— .S. cfi B. 1. c. 



Hirundo Ic bicolore ou a ventre blanr, ic JToine, Ois. Canad. 1861, 143. 

 White-belli«d Swa!low, of authors. 



Hab. — Temperate America. lu North America, nortli to Great Slave 

 Lake and Alaska. Breeds indifterently iu its United States and British 

 American range and on the highlands of Mexico. Winters abundantly in 

 the southernmost United States, Bermuda, Cuba, Mexico, and south to Cen- 

 tral America at least. Accidental in England. 



Cn. SP. — 9 J Viridinitens, infra alha; alis cauddque fusco- 

 nitentibnSj loris nigris. 



$ , adult : Entire upper parts lustrous dark green ; wings and tail black- 

 ish, lustrous ; lores black. Entire uuder parts pure white. Bill black ; feet 

 dark. Length about 6 inches; extent, 13; wing, 4^-5; tail, 2^, slightly 

 forked. 



$ : Similar, the colors rather less intense and lustrous. 



Young : Birds of the year slowly acquire a plumage differing only in the 

 less lustre and intensity from that of the adults ; but, on leaving the nest, 

 they are dark mouse-gray or slate-color above, including the wings and tail, 

 the interscapulars and inner quills tipped with rusty; and white below, 

 slightly shaded with ashy ; thus curiously similar to Cotyle riparia. The 

 feet yellow. According to Mr. Brewster's obstrvations, the first plumage is 

 worn longer than usual, the autumnal dress being slowly gained — one or 

 two of the metallic-tinted feathers at a time. Tbe quills of the wing are 

 moulted by tbe young as well as by the adult, and in both, iu autumn, the 

 inner secondaries are white-tipped. 



SWALLOWS are not seldom seen at sea, being among the 

 birds that most frequently alight ou the rigging of vessels, 



\. - ^ - - ''"' - particular garment? — has been 

 ^<>iiij^ known to accouiplish a traus- 



FIG. 47.-White-bellied Swallow, " natural Atlantic VOyagC SUCCeSSfulIj, 



size. and reach the shores of the old 



country only to be captured and made a paragraph of. This 

 shows what he can do when he really tries to fly ; his move- 

 ments over the land are the veriest sauntering in comparison. 



