352 



SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS.— PASSERES— OSCINES. 



Fig. 207. — Generic details of Hirundo [H. erythro- 

 gastra, uat. size). (Ad. nat. del. E. C.) 



HIRUN'DO. (Lat. hirundo, a swallow. Fig. 207.) Barn Swallows. Tail deeply 

 forficate, nearly or about as long as wings ; lateral feather linear-attenuate, about twice as 



long as middle feather. Tarsi shorter than 

 middle toe and claw, above feathered for a little 

 distance ; basal joint of middle toe partly adherent 

 to both lateral toes. Bill of moderate size for 

 this family, of usual shape, with straight com- 

 missure ; nostrils lateral, overarched by a mem- 

 branous scale. Upper parts glossy, dark-colored ; 

 a dark pectoral collar ; forehead and under parts 

 rufous ; tail spotted with white. Eggs colored. 

 Sexes similar. This is the geuuiue genus Hi- 

 rundo Linn., 1758, type H. rustica, the com- 

 mon Swallow of Europe, as restricted by 

 SCHAEFFER, Elem. Orn., 1774 : see Coues, Auk, 

 July, 1898, p. 271 ; Sharpe, Monograph of Hi- 

 rundinida;, p. xxxv. Hirundo of former editions 

 of the Key, and of A. 0. U. Suppl. List, Auk, 

 Jan. 1899, p. 122. But Chelidon (after FoR- 

 •Ster, Synop. Cat. Brit. Birds, 1817, p. 55). 

 Stejneger, Proceedings U. S. Naticmal Mu- 

 seum, V, June 5, 1882, p. ."31 ; A. 0. U. Lists, 

 1st and 2d editions, 1880-95. 

 H. erythrogas'tra. (Gr. epvdpos, eruthros, 

 ruddy, and yaa-TTjp, gaster, belly. Fig. 208.) American Barn Swallow. Adult ^ : 

 Deep lustrous steel-blue ; forehead and entire under parts rufous, generally deepest on fore- 

 head and throat ; an imperfect steel-blue collar. Wings and tail blackish, with steel- 

 blue or somewhat greenish gloss; 

 lateral pair of tail-feathers much 

 lengthened and filiform at the end, 

 all but central pair with a white 

 spot. Length 6.00-7.00, very va- 

 riable, according to development 

 of tail ; extent 12.50-13.50 ; wing 

 4..50-5.00; tail 3.00-5.00, the fork 

 2.00-3.00 deep. Adult ?: Quite 

 like (J; colors rather less intense 

 and lustrous ; average size smaller. 

 Young : Lacking in great measure 

 elongation and attenuation of lateral 

 tail-feathers, the fork being an inch 

 or less in depth. Similar to the 

 adults, but much duller, and with 

 rather a greenish than steel-blue 

 lustre — at an early age quite 

 brown, with scarcely any lustre ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts skirted with rusty; frontlet obscurely marked or reduced to a mere 

 tawny line ; under parts, especially behind the dark collar, very pale, even brownish-white. 

 N. Am. at large ; abundant ; breeds throughout its range ; migrates through the West 

 Indies, and winters in Cent, and S. Am. Hirundo erythrogaster Boddaert, 1783; H. hnr- 



Fio. 208. — Barn Swallow. 



