534 CLASS XVI. 



them far apart. The first division alone possesses special muscles 

 for song, as in the rest of the singing birds. 



Section I. Hirundinince. Wings with nine primaries, the first 

 longest of all ; secondaries moderate, hidden at the base alone by 

 short coverts. Tail-feathers twelve. 



Hirundo L, (in part^). Characters of the section. Fore toes 

 three, the middle much longer than the side-toes. Claws acute, 

 compressed, slender. Tail mostly forked. 



a) With tarsi naked. 



* With hill somewhat strong, culmen curved. 

 Progne Boie, Cecropis Less. (Species all American.) 

 Sp. Hirundo ])urpurea L. (and H. Subis ejusd.) Buff. PI. enl. 722, Wils. 

 Amer. Ornith. 2, PI. 39, figs. 2, 3; iu North and South America; — Hirundo 

 chalibcea Gm., Buff. PI. enL 545, fig. 2. 



** With hill weak, depressed, very broad at the hose. 



Cotyle Boie, Bihlis Less, add Herse in part. Wings longer than tail. 

 Tail emarginate, or subeven. 

 Sp. Hirundo riparia L., Buff. PI. enl. 543, fig. 2, Naum. Taf. 146, figs. 

 3, 4; — Hirundo tapera L., Brisson Ornith. Ii. PL 45, fig. 3; South 

 America, &c. 



Hirundo. {Cecropis Boie, Athicora Boie, Gray). Tail forked, with 

 outermost feathers sometimes very long. 



Sp. Hirundo rustica L., Buff. PI. enl. 543, fig. i, Naum. Taf. 145, fig. i; 

 the chimney-swallow, die RauchscJiwalbe ; the largest native species; 

 bluish-black above, the throat ruddy, the belly white, a white spot on 

 each of the tail-feathers at the inner side, except the two innermost, which 

 are not spotted. It prefers making its nest in cow-houses. — Hirundo 

 senegalensis L., Buff. PI. enl. 310, Swains. Birds of W. Afr. i. Tab. 6; 

 the largest species, shining black above, ruddy on the belly and hind part 

 of back. 



b) With tarsi and toes hirsute, 



Chelldon BoiE. (Tail forked, with feathers gradually decreasing up to the 

 innermost, the outermost moderate.) 



Sp. Hirundo urbica L., Buff. PI. enl. 542, fig. 2, Less. Ornith. PI. 34, 

 fig. 2, Naum. Taf. 145, fig. 2; the house-martin, Vhirondelle defenctre, die 

 Hausschu'albe ; black above, white below and also on the rump ; tarsi and 

 toes covered with white down ; this species builds a nest of mud on the 



1 Hirundo aims, Hir. melba and Hir. esculcnta L., belong to Cypsdus; Hirundo 

 pratincola L. is Glareola, see above p, 412. 



