HIRUNDINIDJE. 277 



edges with bay ; under this again, from the base of 

 the lower mandible to beneath the ear-coverts, is a 

 long streak of the same colour as the top of the 

 head ; the back, rump and tail-coverts are a beautiful 

 bright glossy light blue ; the scapulars and a part of 

 the back are a darker blue ; the wing-coverts are the 

 same, but with a speck of the bright blue of the back 

 at the tip of each feather ; the quill-feathers are dark 

 dusky, almost black, on the inner webs, greenish blue 

 on the outer ; the tail-feathers are brightish blue, but 

 darker than the tail-coverts; the chin and throat 

 are dull dirty white ; the rest of the under parts are 

 bay, palest on the under tail-coverts ; legs and toes 

 orange ; the outside toe is united to the middle one 

 as far as the second joint, and the inside toe as far 

 as the first joint; claws rather darker than the 

 toes. 



The egg is a plain shining white. 



Family 



There are now six Swallows and Martins and 

 three Swifts included in the list of British birds, 

 three of which seem to have only made one appear- 

 ance in England : as Somersetshire birds I can only 

 claim five out of the nine. 



SWALLOW, Hirundo rustic a. This well-known and 

 always-welcome summer visitor is very common 



SB 



