406 CHARACTERS OF THE GENUS HIRUNDO 



Genus HIRUNDO Linnseus 



Hirundo, L. SN. 1735-176G. (Included originally all the family, and some birds of another 



order.) 

 Oecropis, partly, Boie, Isis, 1826. 



As here restricted to include only species like the European 

 and American " Barn " Swallows, Hirundo is distinguished by 

 the deeply forflcate tail, which is nearly or about as long as the 

 wings, and has the lateral feather on each side linear-attenuate 

 and about twice as long as the middle feather. The tail- 

 feathers are spotted. The tarsi are shorter than the middle 

 toe and claw, covered above by feathers for a little distance. 

 The basal joint of the middle toe is partly adherent to both 

 the lateral toes. The bill is of moderate size for this family, 

 of the usual shape, with straight commissure; and the nostrils 

 are lateral and overarched by a membranous scale. The upper 

 parts are glossy and dark colored. There is a dark pectoral 

 collar. The forehead and under parts are rufous. The tail is 

 spotted with white. The eggs are colored. 



The single North American species of Hirundo is distinct 

 from H. rustica of Europe, but not from the Barn Swallow of 

 Middle and South America. The relationships of the latter 

 have been in question. Baird, in 1865, was " much inclined to 

 doubt whether there is any specific difference ", at a time, too, 

 when he pushed distinctions further than is now usually done. 

 In 1872, I admitted Barton's name horreorum, which had been 

 current since Baird adopted it in 1858, and in 1874 I suggested 

 the term erythrogaster var. horreorum, " though even the varietal 

 distinctions are very slight " ; but I have now no confidence that 

 the imj)lied distinction from erythrogaster Bodd. [=rufa Gm. 

 auct.) will hold. Mr. llidgway appears to be of the same mind, 

 to judge from his latest publication on the subject.* 



* Rep. Geol. .Surv. Fortieth Parallel (Clarence King), vol. iv. pt. iii. Orui- 

 thology. By Robert Ridgway. pp. 303-669. Washington : Government 

 Printing Office. 1877. — This important work, long announced, acd occa- 

 sionally cited during the past few years, has at length appeared. The orni- 

 thological fascicle, being pt. iii. of vol. iv., issued separately, bears no date, 

 but was published late in 1877. I received my copy Feb. 25, 1878. — See 

 an important bibliographical note on p. 392. It appears that the work, 

 as originally prepared, was stereotyped in 1871-72 (not 1870, as the note 

 states), but never published, the citation of the work having been made 

 meanwhile by Mr. Ridgway, myself, and others from proof-impressious. 

 The original was suppressed, lud the stereotype plates were melted in 1876. 

 A single, much-mutilated set of proofs, now (Feb. 28, 1878) iu my posses- 

 sion is tie only eA'idence iu existence of the original report. 



