122 INSESSORES. HIRUNDO. SWALLOW. 



August. The young, after quitting the nest, are fed for 

 some time on wing by the parent birds, which is effected 

 with great celerity, and only to be seen by a very attentive 

 observer. Previous to migration, Swallows collect in immense 

 flocks, and may be seen thus upon house-tops, roofs of 

 churches, or upon trees by the sides of rivers or ponds ; 

 which latter situation is selected, not for the purpose of re- 

 tiring into the water to hybernate, as occasionally asserted, 

 but on account of the plentiful supply of food afforded by 

 such situations. 



PLATE 42. Fig. 1. Natural size. 



General Bill black. Forehead and throat deep orange-brown. Sides 

 descnp. o f fa e nec k ? back, wings, and pectoral band, black, with 



blue reflections. Tail deeply forked, the two outer fea- 

 thers long and pointed ; a large white spot on the inner 

 webs of all the feathers, except the two middle ones, 

 which are entirely black. Belly and vent reddish- white, 

 more or less tinged with reddish-brown. The female 

 has rather less of the orange-brown on the forehead. 

 The black is less brilliant, and the two outer tail- 

 feathers are rather shorter than in the male bird. The 

 young do not acquire the long tail-feathers till after the 

 first moult. White varieties are sometimes to be met 

 with, A specimen, taken at Acton in Northumberland, 

 is in my possession, which is of a pure white above, with 

 the chin and under parts reddish- white. 



