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 Phryganeidae, remains of 

 Crustacea and two species of stickleback (Gasterosteus) . 

 DISTRIBUTION. Confined to Ireland, where it is resident and 

 generally distributed in suitable localities. 



FAMILY HIRUNDLNHXE. 



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-primaried wings with first primary so much 

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

 close investigation. Catch food in flight ; almost cosmopolitan ; 

 the northern species strong migrants. 



Key to genera of family HIRUNDINID^:. 



{Tarsi and toes feathered Delichon, p. 509 

 Tarsi and toes unfeathered 2 



(Outer tail-feathers with large roundish white spots, 

 throat reddish Hirundo, p. 502 

 Outer tail-feathers without white spots, throat white . Riparia, p. 513 



Genus HIRUNDO L. 



HIRUNDO Linnaeus, 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 

 spotted, of daurica and others pure white. Numerous extra-limital 

 species, all continents. 



Key to species of genus HIRUNDO. 



Rump like back. 4 ; . . , ; . . H. rustica, p. 503 

 Rump rufous ...?. daurica, p. 507 



