280 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



the size of the gape ; the irides hazel ; the forehead, 

 chin and throat reddish hay ; the head, neck, back, 

 scapulars, wing- and tail-coverts are a dark glossy 

 blue, with purplish reflections ; quills and greater 

 wing-coverts brownish black ; the tail the same, the 

 exterior feather on each side is very much longer 

 than the rest of the tail-feathers, and considerably 

 narrower towards the tip than at the base ; all the 

 tail-feathers, except the two centre ones, have a 

 roundish spot of white on the inner web ; under the 

 reddish bay on the throat is a broad dark band, 

 almost black ; all the rest of the under parts are a 

 creamy white ; the legs, toes and claws are black. 

 The markings of the female are not so distinct as of 

 the male, and the narrow tips of the outer tail- 

 feathers not so long. The young birds of the year 

 have not the bay mark on the forehead, and the chin 

 has only a slight tinge of that colour ; the white spots 

 on the tail are wanting, as is the narrow elongated 

 part of the two outside feathers. Varieties of the 

 Swallow occasionally occur, white and buff being the 

 most common. 



The egg is white, speckled all over with small 

 orange spots. 



MARTIN, Hirundo urbica. 



" This guest of summer 

 The temple-haunting Martlet does approve, 

 By his lov'd mansionrj, that the heavens' breath 

 Smells wooingly here," 



