The leffer Sea Swallow. Hirundo marina minor.
Numb. LXXXIX, XC.
IT S Weight was two Ounces and a half ; Length, from the Point of
the Bill to the End of the Tail, ten Inches ; Breadth, when the
Wings were extended, twenty four Inches} the Bill, Head, Neck, and
Breaft were black, excepting a few light cinereous Feathers about the
Eyes; the Back, Wings, and Tail were of an Aih-colour, the two laft
darker towards their Ends} the Belly and Thighs of a fordid white} thè
Wings are longer than the Tail, two. Inches; the Tail is fix Inches long
compofed of twelve Feathers, the middlemoft being the ftiorteft, the
reft gradually encreafing to the outmoft (reprefenting the Tail of a
Swallow) from which Charaét'eriftick, I iuppofe it took its Name, as
alio, that of its iwift Flight, and. continually keeping itfelf on the Wing;
when it perceives a fmall Fiih, it plunges'itfelf into the Water, and catching
up its Prey flies away immediately.
The Legs and Feet are red and bare of Feathers half way above the
focond Joint, the Claws black.
The Hen is exa&ly ihaped like the Cock, but fomething lefs ; the
Bill and Top of the Head black, and a Spot of the fame Colour between
the Bill and the Eyes; the reft of the Head, Throat, Breaft, and Belly,
white ; half the upper part of the Neck, the Back, Wings, and Tail
were of a dark browniih Aih-colour; the Legs of a dirty yellow, and
bare of Feathers half way above the fecond Joint.
Its Guts were half a yard long; in the Stomach when differed were
found Bones of Fifties and fome fmall Fifties not digefted. Thefe two
Birds I had from my good Friend Sir Robert Abdy.