ITS HIRUNDIN1D.E. 



The feathering of the Sand-Martin is dull and incon- 

 spicuous, the upper parts being mouse-colour, the wings and 

 tail darker, the under parts snow white. 



The more particular distribution of the colours is as 

 follows : — the top of the head, back, shoulders, rump, 

 temples, cheeks, sides of the breast and thighs, mouse-co- 

 loured ; the sides of the throat the darkest, the forehead 

 and rump the palest, the feathers of the first frequently 

 with white edges ; the throat, swallow, a patch on the 

 sides of the neck, the breast, belly, and under tail-coverts 

 pure white ; on the chest, a pale grey band, and close be- 

 neath, a few grey spots ; the feathers of the wings and tail 

 are darker than the rest ; the under parts of the wing deep 

 mouse-colour ; the wing and tail-feathers beneath are lighter 

 than on the upper parts, and the shafts of the feathers 

 are white. 



The male and female are exactly alike in colouring, 

 the female somewhat smaller. As these birds also moult 

 during their absence from us in warmer climates, their 

 plumage is the most perfect on their return here in the 

 spring, and the whole of the feathering has the appear- 

 ance of silk. During the summer the gloss becomes worn 

 off, as well as the white edges of the feathers, and the 

 general colour is paler and less pure. 



The young Sand-Martins of the year, when they depart 

 from us, differ in many respects from the adult ; the grey 

 is somewhat darker, approaching to dusky ; on the head, 

 back, and wing-coverts, the feathers are edged with dull 

 rust-yellow, which is not unfrequently divided from the 

 ground colour by a darker band ; the tertials have the same 

 borderings but broader ; the throat is dashed with brown and 

 rufous, very frequently spotted with grey. The legs are 

 paler than in the adult, and without the little tufts above 

 the hind toes. Varieties are seldom met with among the 

 Sand-Martins, although they have occurred, 



