Mr. J. Gould on new species of Birds. 77 



^tee{i'^i§ifl^s"; 'these mountains, which are interspersed with vast snow- 

 clad plains, stretch away for miles inland, and rise into beautiful 

 cones in the distance ; here and there in a few sheltered spots a 

 scanty supply of small flowers were to be found, mostly belonging to 

 the following genera : Draba, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, &c. The 

 dark-grey rocks were covered with lichens in great variety, but of a 

 gloomy and sombre hue, in strict keeping with the wildness of the 

 scene ; here too the reindeer moss grew in great abundance. I may 

 remark that the Ptarmigans were so tame, that we could easily have 

 knocked them down with a long stick, doubtless from being so un- 

 accustomed to the intrusion of human visitors." 



I cannot conclude without expressing a hope that some person 

 visiting the country, such as the noble Lord Dufferin, will think of 

 our museums as well as of gratifying their palates, and send us spe- 

 cimens of this new species, which would be highly prized. 



Descriptions of Two New Species of the Family Hirun- 

 DiNiD^. By J. Gould, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



One an Atticora from Guatemala, the other a Chelidon from 

 Cashmere. 



Atticora pileata, Gould. 



Size of the Sand Martin {Cotyle riparia) ; crown of the head, 

 ear-coverts, and back of the neck black, with bluish reflexions ; back 

 deep brown, becoming darker on the upper tail-coverts ; wings 

 blackish-brown, darkest on the shoulders ; tail moderately forked, 

 and of the same colour as the wing ; throat mottled with dark brown 

 and greyish-white ; breast white, blending into brown on the flanks ; 

 under tail-coverts largely developed, and of a dark purplish-brown ; 

 bill and feet dark purplish-brown ; thighs brown, gartered with white. 



Total length, 5-^ inches ; wing, 3f ; tail, 2^ ; tarsi, f . 



Hab. Guatemala. 



Remark. — This bird is much smaller, but is of precisely the same 

 form as the Atticora fasciata. Science is indebted to George Ure 

 Skinner, Esq., for the introduction of this new and interesting 

 Swallow. 



Chelidon Cashmeriensis, Gould. 



Considerably smaller than the common species Chelidon urbica, 

 but of precisely the same form and colour, except that the axillaries 

 and under part of the shoulder are dark brown instead of greyish- 

 white ; the feathered tarsi occur in both species ; crown of the 

 head, back, and shoulders black, with steel-blue reflexions ; tail 

 brownish-black ; throat, under surface, and rump white, stained with 

 brown on the flanks. 



Total length, 4f inches ; wing, 3|- ; tail, 2 ; tarsi, -^-^, 



Hah. Cashmere. 



Remark. — For our knowledge of this species we are indebted to 

 Dr. A. Leith Adams of the 22nd Regiment ; several of whose dis- 

 coveries in ornithology have already been recorded. 



