Tail with the two external feathers disproportionately long; others
graduated.
1. Hirundo rufa. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. p. 1018. (1788.) The Barn
Swallow.
Hirundo horreorum. Barton, Frag. Nat. Hist. of Penna. p. 17.
(1799.)
Hirundo americana. Wilson, Am. Orn. V. p. 34. (1812.)
Hirundo erythrogaster. Boddaert, Tab. Pl. Enl. p. 45. (1783.)?
Hirundo cyanopyrrha. Vieill., Nouv. Dict. XIV. p. 510. (1817.)
“Hirundo rustica. Linn.” Aud. Orn. Biog. II. p. 413.
Wilson, Am. Orn. V. pl. 38, fig. 1, 2; Aud., B. of Am. pl. 173, Oct.
ed. I. pl. 48; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 29, fig. 64; Buff., Pl.
Enl. 724, fig. 1?
Wings long; tail deeply forked with the two outer feathers much the
longest; forehead, throat, and neck in front, chestnut, which color is
separated from the paler color of the breast by a partial or rarely
perfect collar of dark steel blue; entire upper parts steel blue, with
a purple lustre, inclining to green on the wings and tail; breast,
abdomen, and under tail coverts, chestnut, very pale in some
specimens, but generally darker on the tail coverts; tail with a large
spot of white on the inner web of every feather, except the middle
two; bill and feet black; sexes very nearly alike.
Dimensions. Total length, 7 inches; wing, 4½; tail, 3½. Female
smaller.
Hab. Throughout North America. Canada (Dr. Hall); Oregon (Dr.
Townsend); Texas (Dr. Woodhouse); Santa Fé (Col. McCall); Indiana (Dr.
Haymond); Long Island (Mr. Giraud); Cuba (Mr. Lembeye).
This is one of the most abundant of the birds of the United States, and
known to all classes and ages of the population. It is nearly related to
the European House Swallow (_Hirundo rustica_), but can readily be
distinguished on comparison. The European is rather the larger, the
under-parts are darker, and the collar on the neck in front complete. In
the present bird this collar is imperfect, with very rare exceptions.