250 HIRUNDINID^E. 



the regular summer visiters to the Faroe Islands, and even 

 to Iceland. Pennant says it is common in Siberia, and 

 from thence southward is found in most of the countries 

 visited by the Swallow. On its passage in spring and 

 autumn it visits many of the islands of the Mediterranean. 



In the adult male bird the beak is short and black ; the 

 irides brown ; the top of the head, ear-coverts, back of the 

 neck, wing-coverts, and back, are of a rich, glossy, bluish, 

 black ; rump, and upper tail-coverts, white ; feathers of 

 the wings and tail, dull black : the wings reaching to 

 the end of the tail, which is forked; chin, and all the 

 under surface of the body, white ; legs and toes small, and 

 covered with short downy white feathers; claws curved, 

 sharp, and of a greyish horn colour. 



The whole length rather exceeding five inches and one 

 quarter. From the carpal joint to the end of the first 

 quill-feather of the wing, which is the longest, four inches 

 and one quarter. 



There is but little distinction between the sexes. Females 

 and young birds of the year are not so pure in colour 

 above, and the chin and throat are of soiled or greyish 

 white. 



White varieties of the Martin are sometimes obtained. 



