Barn-Swallow 417 
laterally, overhung by a distinct operculum or scale; tail long, 
more than half the wing, very strongly forked, the outer feathers atten- 
uated and about twice the length of the middle ones, all with a white 
spot on the inner web. Sexes alike ; eggs spotted. 
This genus, containing the typical Swallows, is a large one, and ranges 
all over the world. Only one species is ordinarily met with in North 
America, and this is so similar to the common Chimney-Swallow of 
Europe, that many naturalists do not consider it worthy of more than 
subspecific separation. 
Barn-Swallow. Hirundo erythrogastra. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 613—Colorado Records—Allen 72, pp. 148, 
156, 162 (H. horreorum) ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Henshaw 75, p. 216 ; Scott 
79, p. 93 ; Tresz 81, p. 287; Allen & Brewster 83, p, 160 ; Beckham 85, 
p. 141; Drew 85, p. 15; Lowe 92, p. 101; H. G. Smith 93, p. 244; 
Cooke 97, pp. 18, 111, 217; Dille 03, p. 74; Henderson 03, p. 236; 
09, p. 238 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; 08, p. 24; 09, p. 17 ; Gilman 07, p. 158; 
Markman 07, p. 157; Rockwell 08, p. 175; Hersey & Rockwell 09, 
p. 121. 
Description.—Male—General colour above dark steely-blue, less 
glossy and more dusky on the wings and tail ; a white spot on the middle 
of the inner web of all the tail-feathers, except the central pair ; fore- 
head, malar region, chin and throat dark cinnamon-rufous, rest of the 
under-parts pale cinnamon-rufous, sometimes almost white, sometimes 
nearly as dark as the throat; a steely dark blue patch on either side 
of the breast, occasionally narrowly connected to form a complete 
band ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky horn. Length 6-1; wing 
4.60 ; tail 3-20; culmen -30; tarsus -40. 
The female is very similar, sometimes a little paler and smaller ; 
a young bird is much duller with u sooty-black crown and light 
cinnamon-brown forehead and throat. 
Distribution.— Breeding throughout the greater part of North 
America from Alaska and Labrador, south through western Mexico 
to Guadalajara ; in winter from south Florida, the West Indies and 
southern Mexico to the Argentine. 
In Colorado the Barn-Swallow is less common than the other Swallows 
but is still far from rare; it is found all ver the State in suitable locali- 
ties from the plains to about 10,000 feet. The highest breeding 
record I have met with is Breckenridge, where it was observed by 
Carter (Cooke 97), while Allen (72) noticed it flying about at the tops 
of the mountains near Montgomery in South Park at 12,000 feet. 
It arrives about the end of April (April 20th at Gold Hill, Gale). 
The following are additional recorded localities: Weld co. (Mark- 
man), Barr Lakes, common (Hersey & Rockwell), Limon (Aiken), 
DD 
