414 CHARACTERS OF WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW 

 Hirundo prasina, Licht. "Preie-Verz. Mex. Vog.1830,2"; J. f. 0. 1863, 58 (quotes "viridte 



Hirondelle bicolore, V. 1. c. 



Black and White Swallow, fiteph. 1. c. (= bicolor V.). 



Green-blue Swallow, Steph. 1. c. S. & R. 1. c. 



Hironde le bicolore ou a ventre blanc, Le Maine, Ois. Canad. 1861, 143. 



White-bellied Swallow, of authors. 



HAB. Temperate America. In North America, north to Great Slave 

 Lake and Alaska. Breeds indifferently in its United States and British 

 American range and on the highlands of Mexico. Winters abundantly in 

 the southernmost United States, Bermuda, Cuba, Mexico, and south to Cen- 

 tral America at least. Accidental in England. 



Cn. SP. 9 J Viridi-nitens, infra alia ; alls cauddque fusco- 

 nitentibuSj loris nigris. 



$ , adult : Entire upper parts lustrous dark green ; wings and tail black- 

 ish, lustrous ; lores black. Entire under parts pure white. Bill black ; feet 

 dark. Length about 6 inches; extent, 13; wing, 4$-5; tail, 2, slightly 

 forked. 



9 : Similar, the colors rather less intense and lustrous. 



Young : Birds of the year slowly acquire a plumage differing only in the 

 less lustre and intensity from that of the adults ; but, on leaving the nest, 

 they are dark mouse-gray or slate-color above, including the wings and tail, 

 the interscapulars and inner quills tipped with rusty; and white below, 

 dightly shaded with ashy; thus curiously similar to Cotyle riparia. The 

 feet yellow. According to Mr. Brewster's observations, the first plumage is 

 worn longer than usual, the autumnal dress being slowly gained one or 

 two of the metallic-tinted feathers at a time. The quills of the wing are 

 moulted by the young as well as by the adult, and in both, in autumn, the 

 inner secondaries are white-tipped. 



SWALLOWS are not seldom seen at sea, being among the 

 birds that most frequently alight on the rigging of vessels, 



beyond sight of land, to rest 

 and recruit before pushing 

 on their trackless way. The 

 pretty White-bellied Swallow, 

 in dress-suit of snowy vest 

 and literal " swallow-tail' 7 for 

 have we not such & name for a 

 particular garment? has been 

 known to accomplish a trail s- 

 Atlantic voyage successfully, 

 and reach the shores of the old 

 country only to be captured and made a paragraph of. This 

 shows what he can do when he really tries to fly ; his move- 

 ments over the land are the veriest sauntering in comparison. 



