502 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Breeding-habits. — Similar to those of British race as are also 

 Nest and Eggs, 4-5 in number. Average of 28 Irish eggs, 25.8 X 

 18.5 mm. Breeding-season. — From early March (occasionally in 

 February) onward. Double brooded. 



Food. — Probably very similar to that of British race. Thompson 

 records larvae of coleoptera, larvae of Phryganeidse, remains of 

 Crustacea and two species of stickleback (Gasterosteus) . 



Distribution. — Confined to Ireland, where it is resident and 

 generally distributed in suitable localities. 



Family HIRUNDINID^. 



The best defined family of British Passeres. Easily recognizable 

 by the wide mouth (Swifts and Goatsuckers which also have 

 very wide mouths have only 10 tail-feathers, besides many other 

 differences — see p. 5 and under '' Cypseli" and '' Caprimulgi"), 

 triangular flat beak, very short tarsus, weak feet with strong 

 claws, very long nine-primnried wings with first primarj^ so much 

 reduced that it is outwardly invisible and can only be found by 

 close investigation. Catch food in flight ; almost cosmoi^olitan ; 

 the northern species strong migrants. 



{ 



Key to genera of family Hirundinid.e. 



Tarsi and toes feathered Delichon, p. 509 



Tarsi and toes vnifeathered 2 



(Outer tail-feathers with large roundish white spots, 

 throat reddish Hirutido, p. 502 

 Outer tail-feathers withovit white spots, throat white . Riparia, p. 513 



Genus HIRUNDO L. 



Htriindo Linna?us, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 191 (1758 — Type by subse- 

 quent designation, of Gray, List Gen. B., 1840, p. 8 : Hirundo rustica L.) 



Comprises the real Swallows. Tarsi and feet unfeathered, 

 hind -claw shorter than the digit. Rictal bristles few and weak. 

 Wings very long and pointed and reaching far beyond angle of 

 tail-fork, first developed (technically second) primary longest. 

 Tail forked, in adult bird lateral pair of tail-feathers greatly elon- 

 gated and attenuated, terminal half almost filiform. Upper -parts 

 glossy, fore-head and throat reddish. Eggs of British Swallow 

 sjDotted, of daurica anel others pure white. Numerous extra-limital 

 species, all continents. 



Key to species of genus Hirundo. 



Rump like back H. rustica, p. 503 



Rump rufous ., . . . H. daurica, p. 507 



