to ' The Birds of India.' 351 



Ibis, 1869). This form is very close to, if distinct from, the 

 Indian bird. 



Schlegel gives three races (one from Japan, one from India, 

 and one from Borneo), without any material distinctions except 

 slight diflferences of size ; but a species from the Philippines 

 appears distinct. 



Mr. Hume will probably have learned long before this that 

 Strix superciliaris, V., stated to have been sent from Coroman- 

 del (India), which he thinks to be quite probable, is a Mada- 

 gascar bird. 



82. HiRUNDO RUSTICA. 



I think it probable that the more eastern races of this Swal- 

 low may be separated as H. gutturalis, with which it appears 

 that H. fretensis, Gould, from North Australia and Java is iden- 

 tical. It is on the average shghtly smaller, with shorter wing 

 than the European bird ; and the rufous on the throat varies 

 much in extent. A few pairs certainly breed in Sikkim and other 

 parts of the Himalayas, at from about 4000 to 5000 feet of ele- 

 vation. Major Godwin-Austen found it breeding at Asalu in 

 April, and noted its small size compared with H.rustica, the extent 

 of wing being only 12 inches. The Swallow of Kashmir that 

 breeds there abundantly is certainly true H. rustica. 



82 his. HiRUNDO tytleri, Jerdon, B. of India, Appendix, 

 vol. iii. p. 870. 



This Swallow is certainly very close to H. cahirica of Palestine, 

 Egypt, &c., but is somewhat smaller, and with the black gorget 

 less developed. It in fact bears the same relation to H. gutturalis 

 that H. cahirica does to H. rustica, and may be said to be a loca- 

 lized race of the former, breeding in the plains. It has not been 

 found elsewhere than Dacca that I am aware of. 



83. HiRUNDO DOMICOLA. 



This bird is figured by Mr. Gould, B. of Asia, pt. xx. pi. 13. 

 It appears to be very close to true H. javanica ; but that is 

 said to be a good deal larger bird : the dimensions are given in 

 the ^Voyage of the Novara,' as length 6^ inches, expanse of 

 wings 11"9 ; but perhaps the bird referred to there may be 

 H. gutturalis. 



2b2 



