212 



OF THE SWALLOWS IN GENERAL. 



kiful songster. While singing it agitates the crest on its head, but 

 shows scarcely any of that swelling in the throat so preceptible in the 

 Canary and other singing birds. 



The length of the bird is rather more than eight inches. 



THE JAPANESE CHATTERER. 



This is a species found in Japan, with naked nostrils, and without 

 *he usual wax-like appendages to the wings which give this genus 

 the name of Waxwing. It is ash-colored, with an ash-colored and red 

 creat. 



OF THE SWALLOWS IN GENERAL. 



THE bill of the Swallow is short broad at the base, small at the 



point, and some- 

 what bent. The 

 nostrils are open. 

 The tongue is ^iort, 

 broad, and cloven. 

 The tail, except in 

 one species is fork- 

 ed ; and the wings 

 are long. The legs 

 are short, and (ex- 

 cept in four species, 

 in wliich they are 

 all placed forward) 

 the toes are placed 

 tli ree before and one 

 < behind. 



Swallows are 

 easily distinguished 

 from all other birds, 

 not only by their 

 general structure, but by their twittering voice, and their manner 

 of life. They fly with great rapidity, seldom walk, and perform all 

 their functions either on the wing or sitting. By means of their 

 wide mouth they easily catch insects in the air, or on the surface of 

 t je water ; and on these they subsist. 



N aturalists have been much divided in their opinions respecting the 

 migration of the Swallow tribe from this country. 



That the actual migration of the Swallow tribe does take place, has 

 been fully proved from a variety of well -attested facts ; most of which 

 have been taken from the observation of navigators who were eye- 

 witnesses of their flights, and whose ships have sometimes afforded toi 

 them resting-places in their toilsome journeys. 



THE SWALLOW. 



