68 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



FAMILY— HIRUNDINID/E (3 species). 



* SWALLOW 



(Hirundo ncoxena, Gould). 



]Vf ale. —Frontal band deep brick-red, extending from above each 

 eye; head, ear-coverts, and back glossy blue; tail blackish, slightly 

 glossed with green, the tip of the outer web of all save the two 

 centre feathers and the outermost on each side with a small round 

 spot of white; wing coverts and quills blackish-brown, externally 

 washed with steel-blue ; cheeks and throat brick-red ; remainder of 

 under surface mouse-brown; bill, legs, and feet black. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. : — Length, 145; bill, 7.5; wing, 111; tail, 70; tarsus, 

 9.5. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — Composed of small pellets of mud or clay, built up line 

 upon line, mingled with short lengths of grass or straw to give 

 greater adherence to the structure ; in shape it resembles a shallow 

 bowl. Many and varied are the places chosen to cement the 

 structure to, some such being the side of a cave, a cliff, inside a 

 hollow tree, under a bridge, pier, wharf or culvert, on the rafters 

 inside any class of building, and under the eaves; or, in fact, in 

 any nook or angle where it is possible to attach a nest. There are 

 a number of records of " freak " situations being chosen. A pair 

 of birds will return to the same nest year after year, a little more 

 material being added to the outside each succeeding season. The 

 length of time the construction of a nest takes depends greatly 

 on the distance to be traversed for suitable material. W^ith mud 

 and clay of the proper consistency close at hand, three days will 

 see the outside wall well on towards completion. The structure 

 is very warmly lined with feathers. 



Eggs. — Clutch four generally; stout oval in shape; texture very 

 fine; surface glossy; ground colour warm or pinky white, freckled 

 with numerous small spots of reddish-brown and umber or slate. 

 The markings are heavier about the larger end. Dimensions in 

 mm. of a clutch :— (1) 18 x 13.5, (2) 18 x 13, (3) 19 x 13, (4) 17.75 

 X 13.25. 



Breeding Season. — September to December or January, when 

 two to three broods are raised. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, and Aus- 

 tralia in general. 



Observations. — It is impossible to fix exact dates for the arrival 

 and departure of the Swallow. From observations ranging over a 

 number of years, the date of arrival of the vanguard varies from 

 the first week in July to the first week in September. The date of 

 departure also varies greatly, a number of birds often remaining 

 well into April. It often happens that individual birds remain 

 the winter through in some districts; this frequently happens on 



