5*2 
The Hiflory of ANIMALS* 
HIRUNDO. 
T H E beak of the Hirundo is very fmall, of a fubulated figure, crooked, and de- 
preffed at the bafe : the opening of the mouth is enormoufly wide. 
Hirundo reElricibus macula alba notatis. COIlUHOt! 
The Hirundo , with the tailfeathers fpotted with white . 
This, though little regarded for it’s beauty, is a very elegant bird 5 it is of the fize 
of the linnet, but of a very different form of body, and difpofition of plumage : the 
head is large and depreffed ; the eyes are fmall, but very bright: the beak is very incon- 
derable j it is fharp at the point, and flatted at the bafe, but it’s angles run a great 
way up the head, fo that the opening of the mouth is furprifingly wide : the whole 
upper part of the body is of an extreamly elegant bluifh-black, bright, gloffy, and in 
fome degree changeable with the light: the bread: and belly are of a fnow- white, and 
the covering feathers of the under part of the wings are alfo white : the anterior part 
of the head, and the upper part of the throat, are brown j the long feathers of the 
wings are black, as are alfo thofe of the tail, which is forked : the legs are extreamly 
fhort, and they arc naked, not feathered, as in fome other fpecies. 
* • 
Tnis is frequent in fummer about our houfes. All the authors have defcribed it un¬ 
der the names of Hirundo, Hirundo vulgaris, and Hirundo domeftica. 
Hirundo dorfo ccerulefcente , reElricibus immaculatis. 
The Hirundo^ with a blue back, and no fpots on the 
tail feathers . 
ft&aUott): 
This is fomewhat larger than the houfe-fwallow : the head is large and depreffed ; 
the beak is fmall and black ; the eyes are very bright, and the noftrils naked : the head 
and back are black, but there is a very ftrong fhade of deep blue diffufed over them 
in fuch a manner, that in fome lights they appear entirely and folely blue : the front of 
the head, between the eyes and the bafe of the beak, is of a pure black, without any 
tinge of the blue : the long feathers both of the wings and tail are brown ; the throat, 
the bread:, and the belly are white, as are alfo the rump, and the feathers which co¬ 
ver the under parts of the wings: the legs are fhort, and they are covered all the way 
down with a kind of white wool. 
This fpecies is very frequent with us about waters, and among hedges. All the au¬ 
thors on birds have defcribed it. They call it Hirundo agreffis, and Hirundo fylveftris. 
Hirundo tota nigra gula albicante. * , , 
The black Hirundo , with only the throat white. 3CfJt Spcltfttt#. 
i 
This is larger than the common fwallow, but it’s body is fomewhat fhorter and flat¬ 
ter : the head is large and flatted ; the eyes are large, and extreamly bright; their iris 
is hazel: the beak is very fhort and inconfiderable, but the opening of the mouth is 
enormoufly wide : the beak is pointed and black, very weak, and depreffed toward 
the noftrils: the whole bird, as well breaft as back, is of the fame colour, which is 
properly a brown fo very deep, that it approaches to black, and has a tinge of green- 
ifh over it; only on the upper part of the throat there is a moft remarkable large fpot 
of a greyifh-white : the wings are very long; the tail is alfo very long and forked: 
the legs are very fhort, and the feet fmall. 
It is very frequent with us, and all the writers on birds have defcribed it. They 
call it Hirundo apus, and Cypfelus minor. 
Hirundo 
I, 
