ZOOLOGY. 95 



This genus is priacspally confined to South America, 

 India, Cape of Good Hope, and the West India Islands ; 

 most kinds are of gay plumage, their habits very wild and 

 shy, feeding on fruits and insects ; and frequenting woody 

 situations. 



16. Hirundo. Swallow. short, weak, broad, flatten- 

 ed at the base, curving at the tip; gape wide; nostrils 

 open; tongue broad, short, biiid ; tail forked; toe$ 

 three forward, one backward ; a few species have the 

 four toes^ aii placed forwards, (as in the British species, 

 the Swift, /i. apus.) 



A lively, active, cleanly family ; generally frequenting the 

 vicinity of water, they are mostly migratory, the European 

 species repairing northwards in Spring, and southward in 

 Autumn. They are entirely insectivorous, and take their 

 prey generally on wing ; their nests are composed of tem- 

 pered earth, mixed with straw, and lined witli feathers. 

 They may bo obffihied either by the gun, or in a net placed 

 across any avenue they frequent, v/hich should be drawn up 

 the instant "f^hey are approaching, as they fly with so much 

 velocity, as to prevent ihclr escaping, if the net be managed 

 with any degree of adroitness. Four species, are natives 

 of this country, see British Orniihology^ vol. 1. 



17. Glarcola. Pratincole. Bill short, strait, hooked at 

 the tip ; gape wide ; nostrils placed near the base, 

 linear, oblique ; toes long, slender, connected by a 

 membrane at the base ; legs bare ci feathers above the 

 knees } tail forked, composed of twelve feathers. 



