238 



HIRUNDINID.K. 



Savi, the ornithologist of Tuscany, says it leaves Italy for 

 Africa about the end of August ; and according to Messrs. 

 Dickson and Ross it is abundant at Erzerum from the be- 

 ginning of May till the end of September. I have never seen 

 our Swift in any collections brought from India. 



The beak is black, the mandibles very short, but the gape 

 is wide ; irides dark brown ; the head, back, the whole of the 

 body and wings, above and below, nearly uniform blackish 

 brown, except a small patch under the chin, which is greyish 

 white ; legs, toes, and claws, short and black. 



The whole length of the bird to the end of the forked tail, 

 seven inches. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, 

 which reaches an inch and a quarter beyond the end of the 

 tail, six inches and five-eighths : the second quill-feather the 

 longest in the wing ; the first a little longer than the third. 



Young birds have the chin white ; the tertials, and some 

 of the feathers on the upper surface of the body, tipped with 

 bufFy white. 



The vignette below represents the foot of the Swallow, 

 with the breast-bone and foot of the Swift. In the latter the 

 four toes are all directed forwards. In the breast-bone the 

 depth of the keel, and its consequent large muscles indicate 

 the power of flight. 



