1G8 HIRUNDINIDE. 



journeys towards the southern coast, we have no means of 

 ascertaining ; but in all probability the former is the case, 

 as the great power of wing possessed by this species would 

 enable them, without fatigue, to reach beyond the limits of 

 the island long before the setting of the sun. 



In their pursuit of insects the Swallow may frequently 

 be seen flying along the ceiling or roof of large buildings, 

 such as churches, &c. ; or along walls and palings for the 

 purpose of rousing up any winged insects that may be at 

 rest upon them, which they are then able to capture. In 

 heavy weather, or previously to rain, when the air is chilled, 

 Swallows may be seen to abandon the upper strata of air, 

 and to fly near the ground, as at such times the insects that 

 constitute their food do not ascend ; a continuance of wet 

 weather is also hurtful and sometimes fatal to them. At 

 such times they are compelled to resort, in search of food, 

 to the shelter afforded by avenues of trees or overhanging 

 cliffs, or they are seen to pursue their prey low along the 

 surface of the water, where it is sheltered from the inclemency 

 of the weather by the river's bank. 



The Chimney Swallow measures about eight inches and 

 three quarters in length, from the tip of the beak to the 

 extremity of the tail, and fourteen inches in width from 

 wing to wing. The wing from the carpus to the tip is five 

 inches long, the larger quill-feathers are particularly strong, 

 and the shafts are powerful and arched, the secondaries are 

 very short with slanting tips. The tail is much forked, the 

 middle feathers measure one inch and seven-eighths, the 

 outer frame four inches and three quarters to five inches 

 in length ; the wings when at rest reach to about the middle 

 of the tail. The beak is small, three eighths of an inch 

 long, slightly curved at the tip, and pointed, and four lines 

 in breadth at the base, and one line and a half high ; the 

 gape extends to beneath the eyes, and is more than half 



