22 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



tips fairly square and notched (see fig., vol. 1, p. 5). Bill compressed, 

 slightly decurved and tapering to a very fine point. Short bristle- 

 like feathers at gape almost covering nostrils. Hind -toe short, 

 other three long and slender joined together up to about half length 

 of inner and two-thirds length of outer, forming a flat sole. 



Soft parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet dark purplish-brown ; 

 iris crimson (juvenile red-brown). 



Characters. — No subspecies. Easily distinguished from all other 

 British birds by its elongated tail-feathers, chestnut upper-parts, 

 yellow throat and blue under-parts. 



Field -characters. — In fine weather generally on the wing in 

 small parties, rising and falling with easy, graceful flight, like that 

 of Swallow ; in dull weather often sits on wires or trees, where its 

 upright carriage, pointed tail and long bill at once distinguish it. 

 On the wing colour not conspicuous except in favourable lights, 

 but bird recognizable at once by frequently uttered and rather 

 monotonous liquid disyllabic note, " turruk, turruk." At close 

 quarters golden-bronze of upper-surface and emerald-green breast 

 are distinctive. (F .C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds usually in colonies, sometimes in the 

 perpendicular banks of streams. At other times in almost flat 

 ground or in cuttings by roadsides. A circular tunnel is bored 

 horizontally into a bank or sloping downwards if on flat ground, 

 from 3 or 4 to 8 or 9 ft. ending in a circular chamber. No nest is 

 made, but castings accumulate round eggs or young. Eggs. — 5-6, 

 sometimes 7 and 8, while 9 and 10 have been recorded ; pure white, 

 glossy and somewhat globular in shape. Average of 100 eggs, 

 25.6 x 21.8 mm. Max. : 28 X 22 and 26 X 23.6. Min. : 24 X 20.1. 

 Breeding '-season. —From about mid-May onward in south Europe. 

 No details of incubation, except that eggs are incubated as laid. 



Food. — Insects taken on the wing while hawking in small parties. 

 Chiefly hymenoptera (Bombus, Apis, Vespa, etc.) and coleoptera. 

 Also in smaller numbers diptera, lepidoptera and according to 

 Naumann orthoptera, odonata, phryganeidse and cicadse. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Vagrant. England. — Over forty 

 obtained and many others seen, chiefly south of Derby, but seven 

 in Yorks. Scotland. — About ten seen or obtained on mainland, 

 and two Shetlands. Pair recorded as attempting to nest near 

 Edinburgh, June 1920. Ireland. — Over twenty seen or obtained. 

 Generally appears in spring, but also in autumn ; often two or three 

 together, and flocks of six or seven have been reported. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — South Europe and Mediterranean islands, 

 Africa north of Sahara, north to Camargue in south France, Danube 

 in Hungary, and south Russia, eastwards to Transcaspia, Turkestan 



