HIRUNDINID^E. 329 



holes about the houses ; but the greater numbers resorted to the lakes, and spent 

 the night among the branches of the candle-berry myrtle. Their twittering and 

 the motion of their wings is heard during the whole night. As soon as day begins 

 to dawn, they take wing, flying low over the lakes for some time ; then, rising, 

 they gradually move off in search of food, separating in different directions." 

 In its mode of flight and general appearance it strongly resembles the H. urbica 

 of Europe, of which, from imperfect comparisons, it was long considered to be a 

 variety. It is, however, as far as we know, peculiar to the New World. It is 

 said that it often takes possession of the boxes which the farmers of the United 

 States set up for the Purple Martin, and constructs its nest within, of hay, without 

 using either mud or clay. — R. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a full-plumaged male, in Mr. Swainson's museum, killed at New York. 



Colour. — Upper plumage blue-black, richly glossed with very dark sea-green, the blue 

 tint predominating in some lights and the green in others. Wings and tail blackish-brown, 

 the tertials, spurious quills, and greater covers having a slight marginal gloss of blue-green. 

 The whole under plumage, from the chin downwards, is pure white. Ears blue-green. Bill 

 black. Feet brown. 



Form typical : the wings are four-tenths of an inch longer than the tail ; the first quill is 

 the longest, and the lesser ones are deeply emarginate. 









Dimensions. 











Inch. 



Lin. 





Inch. 



Lin. 



'Inch. Lin 



Length, total 



. 5 



10 



Length of wing 



. 4 



8| Length of bill to rictus 



. 6 



„ of tail from vent . 



2 



6 



,, of bill above 







2| Depth of fork of tail 



5 



— Sw. 



[115.] 2. Hirundo Americana. (Wilson.) American or Bam Swallow. 



Genus, Hirundo, Linn. 



Chimney Swallow. Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 429, No. 330. 



Barn Swallow (//. Americana). Wils., v., p. 34, pi. 38, f. 1 and 2.* 



Hirundo rufa. Vieil. Ois. de I' Am., pi. 30. Bonap. Syn., No. 72. 



This Swallow is very common in the United States, and builds its nests in 

 every barn to which it can find access. In the fur-countries, where the habitations 



* It appears to us very doubtful whether the Hirondelle a. ventre roux de Cayenne of Buffon {Ed. Sonn., six., p. 35), 

 of which methodists have made their Hirundo rufa, is really the same as the H. Americana of Wilson. From the 

 evidence we at present have, we are disposed to consider them distinct. The only authentic account of the Cayenne 

 species is that given by Buifon, which all the compilers have since copied. From this it appears to be only five inches 



2 U 



