56 SWALLOWS. 



other Passerinse ; the external toe is united to the median, as far as 

 the first articulation, and the number of phalanges is not unusual. 

 38. SWALLOWS PROPERLY so CALLED, Hirundo, have a trian- 

 gular beak, broad and depressed at the base, a little curved at 

 the point, the nostrils oblong, the legs short, the wings very long, 

 and the tail ordinarily forked. These birds delight most in those 

 places where flies and other winged insects are common : they 

 construct their nests with great care, often of a sort of masonry 

 in the ground ; the female sometimes lays twice a year. Most 

 of the Swallows leave us towards the end of September, and 

 migrate in large flocks to warm countries where they pass the 

 winter ; but return in the beginning of the spring and take pos- 

 session of the nests they had left the preceding year. Their 

 habits are mild, and they are remarkable for their sociability. 

 They often join a great number together, to drive off an enemy, 

 the attack of which any one of them may fear. The Swallow 

 announces even to Swifts, and other small birds the approach of 

 a bird of prey. At the sight of an owl or a hawk, it utters a 

 piercing cry ; immediately all the birds of its species, and the 

 Swifts assemble around it, and often march in line against the 

 enemy, which they harass until he is forced to beat a retreat. 



39. In the genus of Swallows we must mention, the Martin, 

 Hirundo urbica, (Plate 4. jig. I.) which is black above, white 

 below and on the tail, and the feet are feathered to the nails. It 

 arrives about the middle of April, and disappears about the mid- 

 dle of September. It constructs its nest of earth, lined inside 

 with straw and feathers, which it often places in the angles of 

 windows and beneath the eaves. 



40. The Chimney Swallow^ Hirundo rustica, is an inch 

 longer than the preceding, with a very forked tail and naked 

 toes ; it is black above ; the front, that is the forehead, throat, and 

 brows are red, and the rest of the bird is ordinarily white. It 

 arrives a little earlier than the preceding, constructs a similar 

 nest, which it commonly places on chimneys, in stables and barns. 



41. The Salangane, or Edible Swallow, Hirundo esculenta, 

 which inhabits the East Indian archipelago, is celebrated on 

 account of its nest, which it constructs of a whitish, gelatinous 

 substance, arranged in layers ; this substance is a marine plant 

 which it soaks in the sea and grinds previously to using. These 

 nests are eaten, dressed like mushrooms, and in soup ; the Chinese 



38. What are the habits of Swallows properly so called ? 



39. What is the Martin ? What are its habits ? 



40. What are the characters of the Chimney Swallow? 



41. What is the Salangane ? For what purposes is thenest of this Swallow 

 used? 



