260 HIRUNDINIM. 



autumn it visits many of the islands of the Mediterra- 

 nean. 



In the adult male bird the beak is short and black ; the 

 irides brown ; the top of the head, ear-coverts, back of the 

 neck, wing-coverts, and back, are of a rich, glossy, bluish 

 black ; rump, and upper tail-coverts, white ; feathers of 

 the wings and tail, dull black, the wings reaching to 

 the end of the tail, which is forked ; chin, and all the 

 under surface of the body, white ; legs and toes small, and 

 covered with short downy white feathers ; claws curved, 

 sharp, and of a greyish horn colour. 



The whole length is rather more than five inches and 

 one quarter. From the carpal joint to the end of the first 

 quill feather of the wing, which is the longest, four inches 

 and one quarter. 



There is but little distinction between the sexes. Fe- 

 males and young birds of the year are not so pure in colour 

 above, and the chin and throat are of soiled or greyish 

 white. 



White varieties of the Martin are sometimes obtained. 



