7 



HIRUNDINIM. 



Progne Boie.* 



Bill strong, short, the gape very wide, the sides gradually compressed, the culmen and lateral 

 margins arched to the tip, the latter inflected ; the nostrils basal, large, and rounded. Wings lengthened, 

 with the first quill the longest. Tail moderate, and slightly forked. Tarsi shorter than the middle 

 toe, strong, and scutellated. Toes long, strong, the lateral ones equal ; the claws moderate and curved. 



The New World is the peculiar abode of these birds, which migrate from one part to another according to the season, 

 extending their migrations to within the arctic circle. Their flight, says Wilson, unites in it all the swiftness, ease, 

 rapidity of turning, and gracefulness of motion of their tribe. They exhibit great boldness in attacking other birds, 

 viz., crows, hawks, and eagles, by means of diving, and sweeping upon and around them, whenever they make their 

 appearance, and with such vigour and rapidity, as to put them instantly to flight. Their prey consists of wasps, bees, 

 and large beetles, &c. The people of the United States of America frequently fit up retreats for these birds against 

 their houses, or on trees, in which they make their nests, which are formed of dry leaves of weeping willow, slender 

 straws, hay, and feathers, in considerable quantity. The eggs are four in number. 



1. P. purpurea (Linn.) PL enl. 722., Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 

 39. f. 1)2. — Hirundo violacea Gmel. ; H. subis Linn. ; H. ca?rulea 

 Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 26, 27. ; H. versicolor Vieill. Audub. B. 

 of Amer. pi. 22. 



2. P. modestus Gould, Voy. of the Beagle, Zool. Birds, pi. 5. — 



3. P. dominicensis (Gmel.) PL enl. 545. f. 1., Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. 

 Septr. t. 28, 29. — Hirundo albiventris Vieill. 



4. P. chalybea (Gmel.) PL enl. 54-5. f. 2. — Hirundo cayanensis 

 Briss. Orn. ii. t. 46. f. 1. 



5. P. domestica (Vieil.) N. Diet. d'H. Nat. xiv., AzaraNo. 300. 



Hirundo concolor Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1 837. P- 22. 6. P. fusca Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., Azara No. 301. 



Cotyle Boie.-\ 



Bill moderate, very flat, extremely broad at its base, and gradually narrowed towards the tip ; the 

 nostrils very prominent and rounded. Wings very long, with the first quill the longest. Tail moderate, 

 and emarginated, or nearly straight at the end. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, slender, and 

 scutellated. Toes rather short, very slender, the lateral ones unequal ; the claws moderate and slightly 

 curved. 



The birds of this division are found both in the Old and New Worlds, making periodical visits to different parts, 

 according to the season, and extending them even to the sixty-eighth degree of latitude. They usually frequent the 

 banks of rivers, sometimes in large flocks ; and are often observed skimming the surface of the water, and preying on 

 gnats and other small insects. If the weather should become cold after their arrival, they take refuge in their holes, 

 clu stering together for warmth. The nest are lodged in holes, which are commonly scratched out of the high sandy 

 banks of rivers, or gravel pits, at a short distance from the surface, running in a horizontal direction to a depth varying 

 from two to seven or eight feet. At the end of each hole is placed a little fine dry grass, with a few large downy 

 feathers, on which are deposited five eggs. 



* This genus was established by M. Boie (Isis) in 1826. 



t Established by M. Boie (Isis) in 1822. In 1837, M. Lesson proposed the genus Biblis, which is coequal. 



