62 CLASS AVES. 



» 



Among the foreign swallows should be remarked 



The Salangane. Hir, esculenta. Lin. 



A very small species, of the Indian Archipelago, 

 with a forked tail, brown above, and at the end of 

 the tail and beneath, whitish. Celebrated for its 

 nests, of a whitish gelatinous substance, disposed in 

 layers, which it makes with a peculiar species of 

 fucus, which it macerates and bruises for the pur- 

 pose. The restorative virtues attributed to these 

 nests have made them an important article of com- 

 merce in China. They are prepared for eating like 

 mushrooms. 



According to Dr. Horsfield, the tips of the tail are 

 sometimes black. 



The Hir. fuciphaga of the Act. Holm, seems allied 

 to this. 



Barn Swallow. Hir. rufa. Gm. H. Americana. 

 Wilson. PI. Eul. 724. Wilson, V. 38. 



« Above, and band on breast, steel blue ; forehead, and 

 beneath, rufous; tail forked, with a white spot on 

 side of feathers ; outer tail feathers long and narrow. 

 North America. 



Fulvous, or Cliff Swallow. Hir fulva. Vieil. 

 Bonap. A. O. 7- 



Blue black ; beneath, brownish white ; throat, front, 

 and rump ferruginous ; tail even. America. 



The black-bellied Swallow, Hir. melanogaster oi 

 Swainson, seems allied to this. 



