926 SWALLOW 
the Aphriza virgata of ornithology, a peculiar Limicoline form 
found on the Pacific coast of America from Alaska to Chili (Gay, 
Fauna Chilena, p. 408). It was referred to the genus Tinga by 
Latham, who in 1785 (Gen. Synops. 11. p. 180) described a specimen 
brought from Sandwich Sound (most likely by the survivors of 
Cook’s last voyage), but was lost sight of for many years until 
Townsend obtained a single example, in November 1836, at the 
mouth of the Columbia River, and sent it to Audubon, who re- 
described the species as new, founding thereon a new genus Aphriza. 
It has since been frequently observed, but the most recent explorers 
of north-western America have failed to find its breeding-grounds, 
which are probably, as the natives told Mr. Nelson (Rep. V. H. Coll. 
Alaska, iii. p. 128), though he mistrusted them, on the bare moun- 
tains of the interior ; and little is known of its habits, except that 
it frequents the sea-shore, seeking its food in the surf, undeterred 
by the spray of the breaking waves, and hence it has received both 
its scientific (dppds, foam, (dé, I live) and English names. The 
bird is about as large as a KNov, and not unlike one in its winter- 
dress, though much darker in colour above, with a conspicuous 
white bar on the wings and a white rump, and it undergoes little 
if any seasonal change. Its osteology, as examined by the present 
writer (Journ. Morphol. 1888, pp. 311-340, pl. xxv.), shews that its 
affinity is rather to the smaller SANDPIPERS than to the PLOVERS, 
and still less than to the TURNSTONES or OYSTER-CATCHERS, among 
which it has been generally placed, and therefore it is proposed to 
be regarded as in itself forming a separate Family Aphrizide. 
R. W. SHUFELDT. 
SWALLOW (A.-S. Swalewe, Icel. Svala, Dutch Zwaluw, Germ. 
Schwalbe), the bird which of all others is recognized as the harbinger 
of summer in the northern hemisphere ; for, 
though some differences, varying according 
to the meridian, are usually presented by 
the birds which have their home in Europe, 
in northern Asia and in North America 
respectively, it is difficult to allow to them a 
specific value; and consequently a zoologist 
of wide views, while not overlooking this 
local variation, will regard the Swallow of 
all these tracts as forming a single species, 
the Hirundo rustica of Linnzus.! Returning, 
usually already paired, to its summer-haunts, 
SwatLtow. (After Swainson.) 
1 Tt has been already noticed that recent American authors would apply to 
the Swallow the generic term of Chelidon, generally accepted for the House- 
Martin (p. 536), and to the latter Hiruwndo. Herein they are technically 
incorrect, for one of the first principles of zoological nomenclature has always 
i ia all Oly 
