1-46 SWALLOW. 



same, very short, with slanting tips; tertiaries, glossy blue; 

 greater and lesser under wing coverts, buff white, darker than 

 the breast, and ending on the edge of the wing in a border 

 of black, brown, and white. Tail, very much forked, the 

 outer feather on each side almost five inches in length, being 

 as long again as the others, and nearly black, with bronze 

 reflections and pale brown edges, with an oblong patch on 

 the inner web beginning near the base, and ending near the 

 end of the second feather, which, as well as the three next 

 feathers, which decrease in length, have each a rounded white 

 patch on the inner web; the two middle feathers are the 

 shortest of the whole, and dull black, without any white on 

 either web. The white spots on the others form a sort of 

 bar when the tail is expanded, but when it is closed they are 

 not apparent they shine through. Upper tail coverts, glossy 

 blue; under tail coverts, buff white; legs, very short, and, as 

 the toes, slender, and reddish grey; their upper surface is 

 covered with small scales, underneath the latter are grey; 

 claws, weak, sharp, and almost black. The Swallow moults 

 in January and February. 



The female resembles the male in plumage, The brown on 

 the forehead is less extended than in the male; the black on 

 the upper part of the breast is not so broad ; the breast has 

 less of the rufous and buff tinge; the back is not so lustrous, 

 and the outer tail feathers are shorter than in the male bird. 



The young are at first thickly covered with grey down. 

 They soon assume the garb of the adult bird, but are without ' 

 the lustrous tint, and the feathers do not lie so compactly! 

 together. Bill, yellow at the corners of the base; iris, brown. \ 

 There is no chesnut on the forehead; the throat is paler and 

 duller the black band is but faintly indicated. The outer 

 tail feathers are much shorter, not reaching to their proper 

 length till after the first moult; the legs are reddish black; 

 the toes beneath, grey. 



Buff varieties occasionally occur, as well as white ones, and 

 also pied, or black and white; yellowish white, with a faint 

 rufous tinge on the head and chin; and one silver grey one 

 has been met with, with the same red on the head and throat, 

 and one white above, with the chin and breast reddish white. 

 One of a very light fawn-colour; another of a lighter fawn- 

 colour, of various shades, the wings and tail being almost 

 white on the upper surface; another with the body, head, and 

 breast, buff-colour, the wings and tail white, Mr, Thompson 1 



