226 
AVES. 
ORDER VIII.—CHELIDONES. 
Bill very short, greatly depressed, and much dilated at the 
base; the upper mandible curved at the point; legs short; three 
toes before and one behind, which is frequently reversible ; 
front toes free, or connected at the base by a short membrane ; 
claws greatly hooked ; wings long. 
Genus 1. — HIRUNDO.— Linnaeus. 
Generic Character .—Bill short, much depressed, and dilated 
at the base ; upper mandible carinated and bent at the tip ; gape 
extending backwards to the eyes; nostrils basal and oblong, 
partly covered by a membrane ; tarsus short, toes and claws 
long and slender, three before and one behind ; the exterior toe 
adhering as far as the first joint of the intermediate one ; wings 
long, the first quill longest; tail forked, consisting of twelve 
feathers. 
Hirundo rustica. — The Chimney Swallow. 
Plate LII. fig. 2- 
Bill black; forehead and throat deep orange-brown; upper 
parts black, with iridescent reflections; tail deeply forked, the 
two external feathers long and pointed; all the inner webs with 
a white spot, except the two middle ones; abdomen and crissum 
reddish-white. Six inches and a half long. Inhabits Europe. 
Hirundo urbica — The Martin. 
Plate LII. fig. 3. 
Head, back of the neck, and upper parts of the back, glossy 
bluish-black; wings and greater coverts brownish-black; tail 
the same and forked; under parts and rump snowy-white; 
tarsus and toes clothed with downy-white feathers. 
Genus 2. — CVPSELUS. — lllicjer. 
Generic Character. —Bill very short, depressed, dilated at 
the base, and triangular; the gape extending beyond the pos¬ 
terior angle of the eye; upper mandible deflected at the point; 
nostrils cleft longitudinally, at the edge of the ridge, open, with 
a prominent margin, beset with small feathers; tarsus very short 
