400 ABNORMAL COLORATION OF SWALLOWS 



Abnormal Coloration of Swallows 



These birds are so coustantly under observation, that it is 

 no wonder that many instances of albinism have been observed 

 and recorded, without indicating, however, that Swallows are 

 susceptible of this abnormality to any unusual extent. The 

 only white Swallow that ever fell under my own observation 

 was a specimen of Gotyle riparia, shot at Washington, D. C, 

 by my brother, Louis D. Coues, on the 23d of August, 1859, as 

 recorded by me in the American Naturalist, ii. 1868, p. ICl. This 

 individual was not pure white, however, merely presenting an 

 extremely faded or bleached-out appearance, the normal pattern 

 of coloration being still discernible. This bird was flying in 

 company with hundreds of others, of several species, who seemed 

 to be pursuing and harassing it, on account of its unenviable 

 distinction. This was a very human occurrence — for singu- 

 larity of dress is always the signal for attack, and distinction 

 of any kind usually invites target-practice. 



Mr. Ruthven Deane, in a paper (Bull. Nutt. Club, i. 1876, 21) 

 on "Albinism and Melanism among North American Birds", 

 remarks that albinism among the Rirundinidce is generally of 

 a pure white, or a strong yellowish cast, and instances albinotic 

 specimens he has seen of Hirundo horreorum, Tachycineta 

 bicolor, Petrochelidon lunifrons, and Progne purpurea. 



The following are titles of a few papers specially bearing on 

 the subject of albinism among Swallows: — 



1731. Wallin, G. " De Hirundine alba, Regi nostro Friderico I oblata anno 

 1727, brevis dissertatio. Auctore G. Wallin, Fil. <^ Acta. Liter, et 

 Scient. Svecice, 1731, pp. 98-111." 

 AtVeu Sasom Disput. Upaaliae, 1733. 4to. pp. 15, enl. Warmholtz. — (v. Friesen.) 



1820. Traill, T. S. White Swallow [Hirundo rustica]. <^Edinb. Philos. 

 Joiirn. ii. 1820,]). 391. 



1846. Anon. Note on a White Swallow. < Zoologist, iv. 1846, p. 1500. 



1848. Ellman, J. B. White Variety of the Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and 

 Pale Variety of the Martin (H. urbica). <^ Zoologist, vi. 1848, p. 

 2021. 



1848. Wolley, G. a Martin (Hirundo urbica) with the Middle Tail-feather 



white. < Zoologist, vi. 1848, p. 2303. 



1849. CoLMAN, J. F. White Variety of the Swallow. <^Zoologi8t, vii. 1849, 



p. 2392. 



1849. Garth, J. C. Albino Variety of the Swallow (Hirundo rustica). 

 < Zoologist, vii. 1849, p. 2568. 



