596 HIRUNDO RIPARIA. 



the stomach seven twelfths in length, and five and a half in 

 breadth ; the intestine six and a half inches long. 



The nostrils are very small, elliptical ; the eyes of moderate 

 size ; the aperture of the ear large. The feet are very short ; 

 the tarsus a little longer than the hind toe M^ith its claw, bare 

 anteriorly, with seven anterior scutella feathered behind for 

 half-way up; the first toe with six, the second with eight, the 

 third with ten, the fourth with eight scutella ; the claws rather 

 long, much compressed, moderately arched, laterally grooved, 

 and tapering to a very acute point, that of the hind toe stronger 

 but rather shorter than that of the third. 



The plumage is soft and blended, faintly glossed. The wings 

 are extremely long, with eighteen quills, of which nine are pri- 

 mary, tapering to a rounded point, the first slightly longer than 

 the second; the secondaries, the inner excepted, are emarginate, 

 and the inner four primaries have also a faint notch. The tail 

 is of moderate length, and slightly forked, the lateral feathers 

 exceeding the medial by nearly half an inch. 



The bill is black ; the iris brown ; the feet and claws wood 

 brown. The general colour of the plumage is greyish-brown, 

 the primary quills darker ; the throat, hind part of the breast, 

 abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, brownish- white. 



Length to end of tail 5^^^ inches ; extent of wings 11 ; wing 

 from flexure 4;^% ; tail, lateral feathers 2, medial 1^; tarsus j%; 

 first toe ^'j, its claw |^g ; second toe ji, its claw l^^ ; third toe j|, 

 its claw j\ ; fourth toe j^^, its claw j-^. 



Female. — The female is precisely similar ; at least I am 

 • unable to distinguish her otherwise than by dissection. 

 Length to end of tail 5 inches ; extent of wings 1 1 . 



Changes of Plumage. — Like the rest, this species arrives in 

 full plumage. The colour fades much before the period of its 

 departure, the back assuming a bleached appearance. 



Vakiations. — Individuals of a whitish colour are said to 

 occur, but I have never met with any remarkable deviations 

 from the ordinary appearance. 



