94 HIRUNDIN1DJS. 



this, kill one. I remember, on a very cold day (the 13th of 

 March, 1874), Mr. Stark particularly drawing my attention to 

 this difference in the pairs of birds, which, driven by the cold 

 into the stables and outhouses of the venta at Pulverilla, were 

 sitting side by side, touching one another, allowing us almost to 

 touch them. The contrast in their colour was then most conspi- 

 cuous ; but they appear gradually to lose this rufous tinge as the 

 season advances, and by the end of April it is not apparent. 



In the month of March, during the time of the northern 

 migration of Swallows, a small butterfly, Thestor ballus (one of 

 the Lycsenidse, between the Hair-Streaks and the Coppers), is out 

 in great abundance on the plains. When walking across the 

 grass, the Swallows, which keep flying very close to leeward of you, 

 instantly catch any unfortunate ballus that flies up ; but they seem 

 unable to take them on the ground, perhaps from the protective 

 colouring of their green under-wings they cannot see them when 

 at rest ; but any way the Swallow is an annoyance to the butterfly 

 collector. 



Head, back, and rump steel-blue. Throat and forehead chestnut-red, 

 with complete blue-black band across the lower part of the throat ; under- 

 parts buff to creamy white. Tail strongly forked ; two outer feathers 

 greatly prolonged. Length 8^ inches. 



94. Hirundo rufula, Temminck. Red-rumped Swallow. 



Arevalo mentions this Eastern Swallow as having nested near 

 Malaga, and it is also recorded from Valencia. 



Above glossy purple-blue, with whitish streaks on back. Below white, 

 tinged with buff and streaked with dark brown. 



O 



Nape and stripe over eye (forming a broad collar) and rump brick-red. 

 Lower part of tail-coverts white. Length 7^ inches. 



95. Chelidon urbica (Linnaeus). The House-Martin. 



Spanish. Vencejo. 



" As common as the Swallow near Tangier, this species is seen 

 in flights on passage, crossing to Europe in February, returning 



