iflAl] 



HIRUNDO. 



■.ilt 



293 





■ HIRUNDO, Linn. , , ; 



nirundo, Linn. Sjrst. Nat. I, lOtU ed. 1758, 191. (Type 11. rustica, Linn.) 



Under the generic head of Hirundo I propose to combine several 

 groups of American Swallows agreeing' in moderate, depressed bill, 

 with straight commissure, and lateral nostrils overhung by mom- 

 brane ; the tarsi feathered only at the upper end, or else entirely 

 bare ; the lateral claws moderate, not extending beyond the base of 

 the median ; the edge of the outer primary without hooks ; the tail 

 variable in character, from a very deep fork to a slight emarginatir a 

 only. The relationships to the other genera have already been ex- 

 pressed in the diagnosis presented in the beginning of the article ou 

 the family. 



The following characters express the peculiarities of the different 

 sections or subgenera of Hirundo : — 



latter with lateral feathers edged internally near end with whitish. Forehead > 

 without frontal band, other than an almost inappreciable gloss of chestnut. 



Total length, 4.55 ; wing, 4.00; tail, 2.15 ; difference between quills, 1.80 ; 

 length of bill from forehead, .30, ftom nostril, .17, along gape, .54, width, .43. 

 F««t mutilated. 



The well-marked jugular or pectoral band, white throat and cheeks, and 

 absence of distinct frontlet will readily distinguish this species from lunifromt 

 and its allies. It may be that a more decided frontlet exists in more perfect 

 plnmage, although there is nothing to indicate that this has not been attained 

 in the specimen. 



This species appears to have been overlooked by all writers subsequent to 

 Mr. Peale. 



•• t» 



Smlth- 



(oniaD 



No. 



Collec 

 tor's 

 No. 



C .177 



aad 

 Age. 



Locality. 



When 

 Collected. 



Callao, Peru. | July 12, '39. 



Received frotQ 



U.S. Expl. Exped. 



Collected by 



T. R Peale. 



(14,999.) Type. Irids brown. 



4': 



«» 



