86 CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 



CHIMNEY SWALLOW {Hirundo rustica, Pliny.) 



* Hirundo rustica, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 343. 1. — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 1015. — Lath. Ind. 



Orn. 2. p. 572.— Hirundo domestica, Raii, Syn. p. 71. A. 1. — Will. p. 155. 

 t. 39. — Briss. 2. p. 486. 1. — Hirondellede Cheminee ou domestique, Buff. Ois. 6. 

 p. 591. t. 25. f. 1.— Ib. pi. Enl. 543. f. l.—Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p. 427.— 

 Die Rauch Schwalbe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. p. 902. — Metier, Tasschenb. 1. 

 p. 276. — Chimney or Common Swallow, Br. Zool. 1. No. 168. t. 58. — Arct. 

 Zool. 2. No. 330.— Will. (Ang.) p. 212.— Albin, 1. i. 45.—Lewin's Br. Birds, 

 3. t. 123.— Lath. Syn. 4. p. 561.— Ib. Supp. p. 192.— Mont. Orn. Diet.— lb. 

 Supp. — Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. p. t. 261. — Low's Faun. Oread, p. 73. — Shaw's 



Zool. 10. p. 84.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 251.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 13 Selby, pi. 



42. fig. 1. p. 126.* 



This species weighs between five and six drams ; length six inches 

 and a half ; bill black ; irides hazel ; forehead and chin ferruginous red ; 

 crown of the head and the whole upper parts black, glossed with 

 purplish blue ; breast and belly dusky white ; the tail is much forked ; 

 the two middle feathers plain, the rest marked on the inner webs, near 

 the end, with an oval white spot ; legs dusky. 



The female has not the exterior feathers of the tail so long as in the 

 other sex. 



The swallow seems to be known in most parts of the world. In 

 England it is a very common bird, coming to us in the spring, and 

 departing in September to more mild climates. It is said to winter in 

 Senegal, and probably in many other warm countries. It has taken the 

 name of Chimney Swallow with us, on account of breeding in our 

 chimneys. In some countries it makes its nest against rocks ; with us it 

 is not unusual to find the nest in outhouses, upon the beams or rafters. 



The nest is made of mud, plastered together and lined with feathers, 

 and is open at top. The eggs are four or five in number, white, 

 speckled with rusty red, weighing about thirty grains. 



* It usually selects a chimney to build in ; and according to White 

 seems to prefer one where there is a constant fire, most probably for 

 the sake of warmth. " Not," he adds, " that it can subsist in the 

 immediate shaft where there is a fire, but prefers one adjoining to 

 that of the kitchen, and disregards the perpetual smoke of that funnel, 

 as I have often observed with wonder." In Scotland I have observed 

 that " the straw-built shed," barns, and other outhouses are its chosen 

 haunts, and that it more rarely builds in chimneys than it does in 

 England. In Sweden it is the same, and hence it is called the barn 

 swallow (Ladu swala) ; while in the south of Europe, where chimneys 

 are rare, it builds in gateways, porches, and galleries, or against the 

 rafters of outhouses, as in Virgil's time — 



ante 



Garrula quam tignis nidum suspendat hirundo. 



