f 279] 
The ftrong chara&eriftic mark of this bird, is the 
outermoft feathers of ihe tail, which able naturalifts 
deferibe as three fourths of an inch longer than the 
reft*. Monf. Adanfon, however, compares their 
length, not with the other feathers of the tail, but 
with the length of the bird’s body, which is by no 
means the natural or proper ffandard of com- 
parifon. 
The reafon of my taking notice of thefe more 
minute inaccuracies in Monf. Adanfon’s account cf 
birds, arifes from Mr. Collinfon’s relying upon his 
obfervations with regard to fwallows being fo abfo- 
lutely decifive, becaufe he is reprefented to be fo able 
a naturalift. 
I jfhall now flate (very minutely) under what 
circumflances thefe fwallows were caught, and what 
feems to be the true inference from his own ac- 
count. 
He informs us, that four fwallows fettled upon the 
fhip, not 50 leagues from the coaft of Senegal, on the 
6th of Odtober; that thefe birds were taken, and 
that he knew them to be the true (wallow of Europe-f*, 
which he fuppofes were then returning to the coaft 
of Africa. 
I fhall now endeavour to ffiew that thefe birds 
could not be European fwallows ; nor, if they were, 
could they have been on their return from Europe 
to Africa. 
* Willoughby, p. 131. Br. Zool. Vol. II. in append, 
f I have before endeavoured to (hew that Monf. Adanfon does 
not always recoiled! with accuracy the plumage of the moil 
common European birds, by what he fays with regard to the 
linnet. 
The 
