68 PASSERES. HIRUNDINID^E. 



GOLDEN SWALLOW* 

 Hirundo euekrysea. MIHI. 



THIS exceedingly lovely little Swallow, whose 

 plumage reflects the radiance of the Humming 

 birds, is found, as I am informed by Mr. Hill, in 

 the higher mountains formed by the limestone 

 range of the very centre of the island, as in Man- 

 chester, and St. Ann's. It is not until we ascend 

 this central chain, that we meet with this sweet bird, 

 occasionally in the more open dells, but principally 

 confined to the singular little glens called cock- 

 pits. 



The description is from a dried specimen in my 

 possession, kindly presented by Mr. Hill. 



* Length 4^, expanse ? flexure 4^, tail 1^, rictus -,%, beak 

 along culmen -^-, (nearly,) tarsus ^, middle toe ^ (nearly,) lateral toes 

 T^, equal. 



Irides ? beak black ; feet purplish-black. Whole upper parts 



metallic green, most splendidly glossed with golden as in many Hum. 

 ming-birds. Wing quills and tail have less gloss, and the inner webs 

 are dull black. The tertials and the greater coverts have a well defined 

 band along the outer edge, of rich golden red, and the middle and smaller 

 coverts have a ribbon-like border of emerald green. The green of the 

 head descends around the rictus to the chin. Throat, breast, belly, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts, pure white, soft and downy. First quill longest. 

 Leg feathered to the tarsus. Tail slightly forked. 



