SWALLOW. 329 



65 —MURINE SWIFT. 



THIS bird is less than our Sand Martin in the body ; length six 

 inches and three quarters. Bill black ; plumage in general mouse- 

 coloured brown, but the chin and throat are somewhat paler; the 

 tail in the specimen, excepting one feather, was wanting; this was 

 four inches long; at the base the breadth five-eighths of an inch, 

 lessening gradually, and ending in a fine point ; wings five inches 

 and three quarters, from the bend to the longest quill, which is the 

 second, and, of course when closed, reach to within three quarters 

 of an inch of the tail;* legs slender, brown ; all the four toes placed 

 forwards. 



In the Collection of Mr. Comyns, and appears to be a new 

 Species. 



* * * TOES DIVIDED TWO AND TWO. 



66— BALASSIAN SWIFT. 



LENGTH between four and five inches, breadth ten. Bill short, 

 incurved at the point, and much depressed ; nostrils oblong, dusky ; 

 irides brown ; plumage above ash-coloured, not unlike that of the 

 Sand Martin; beneath paler; quills sharp-pointed, black above, 

 dusky beneath; the wings much acuminated, the second quills being 

 very short, and for the most part dusky; tail much bifurcated, con- 

 sisting of ten feathers, in colour like the quills ; in length two inches 

 and three quarters ; the latter, when closed, are a trifle longer than 

 the tail ; legs feathered before to the toes, which are four in number, 

 two turned on one side, and two on the other, claws long, and the 

 toes much hooked, and reach very little beyond the root of the tail. 



* The single remaining feather appeared to be the outer one. 

 VOL. VII. U u 



