280 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
the size of the gape; the irides hazel; the forehead, 
chin and throat reddish bay; the head, neck, back, 
scapulars, wing- and tail-coverts are a dark glossy 
blue, with purplish reflections; quills and greater 
wing-coverts brownish black; the tail the same, the 
exterior feather on each side is very much longer 
than the rest of the tail-feathers, and considerably 
narrower towards the tip than at the base; all the 
tail-feathers, except the two centre ones, have a 
roundish spot of white on the inner web; under the 
reddish bay on the throat is a broad dark band, 
almost black; all the rest of the under parts are a 
creamy white; the legs, toes and claws are black. 
The markings of the female are not so distinct as of 
the male, and the narrow tips of the outer tail- 
feathers not so long. ‘The young birds of the year 
have not the bay mark on the forehead, and the chin 
has only a shght tinge of that colour; the white spots 
on the tail are wanting, as is the narrow elongated 
part of the two outside feathers. Varieties of the 
Swallow occasionally oceur, white and buff being the 
most common. 
The egg is white, speckled all over with small 
orange spots. 
Martin, Hirundo urbica. 
* This guest of summer 
The temple-haunting Martlet does approve, 
By his lov’d mansionry, that the heavens’ breath 
Smells wooingly here,” 
