HIRUNDO.] AVES INSESSORES. l5^ 



which period, other specimens have been met with on different occasions 

 in Cornwall, Devonshire, and Ireland. Common in some parts of the 

 Continent. Feeds principally on Hymenopterous insects. Nest placed 

 in deep holes excavated in the banks of rivers for that purpose. Eggs 

 five to seven in number. 



GEN. 48. ALCEDO, Linn. 



130. A. Ispida, Linn. (Common King-Fisher.) 

 Crown of the head, and wing-coverts, deep green, spotted 

 with azure-blue: behind the eye a patch of orange-brown 

 passing into white. 



A. Ispida, Temm. Man. cTOrn. torn. i. p. 423. Id. torn. in. p. 296. 

 Common King-Fisher, Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. 

 p. 136. pi. 40. f. 1. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 121. 



DIMENS. Entire length seven inches three lines : length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) one inch six lines, (from the gape) two inches ; of 

 the tarsus four lines and a half; from the carpus to the end of the wing- 

 three inches : breadth, wings extended, ten inches. 



DESCRIPT. Crown of the head deep olive-green, the feathers tipped 

 with bright azure-blue : from the upper mandible to the eye a dusky 

 streak ; behind the eye a band of orange-brown, passing on the sides of 

 the neck into a white patch ; below this, extending from the base of the 

 lower mandible to near the insertion of the wing, a broad streak of azure- 

 green: middle of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, fine bright 

 azure: throat, and fore part of the neck, yellowish white; rest of the 

 under parts ferruginous orange : wing-coverts and quills deep greenish 

 blue, spotted like the crown of the head, but more sparingly : tail greenish 

 blue ; the shafts of the feathers black : bill dusky brown, reddish at the 

 base : irides hazel : feet orange-red. (Egg.) Smooth, and white ; nearly 

 round : long. diam. ten lines and a half; trans, diam. nine lines. 



Generally diffused over the country, and resident all the year. Haunts 

 the banks of rivers and clear streams, feeding on fish and aquatic insects. 

 Is rapid on wing, and frequently utters a shrill cry in its flight. Nest 

 placed in holes in the ground near the water's edge, consisting simply 

 of fish bones and other indigestable parts of the food rejected from the 

 stomach after eating. Eggs six or seven in number. 



GEN. 49. HIRUNDO, Linn. 



131. H. rustica. Linn. (Chimney Swallow.) Upper 

 parts, and a transverse bar on the breast, bluish black ; 

 forehead and throat chestnut-red. 



H. rustica, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 427. Id. torn. in. p. 297. 

 Chimney Swallow, Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 120. 

 pi. 42. f. 1. Swallow, Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 287. 



DIMENS. Entire length seven inches: length of the bill (from the 

 forehead) three lines and a half, (from the gape) eight lines; of the 

 tarsus five lines ; of the tail four inches ; the same, excluding the long 



