30 Mr. H. Seebohm on Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer^s 



birds as Hirundo rustica, Linn., subspecies gutturalis, Scop. 

 Such a form of nomenclature may be complicated, but it is 

 not more complicated than the form which it attempts to dis- 

 criminate. It would be a great pity if, in consequence of a 

 too pedantic adherence to supposed simplicity of nomen- 

 clature, such an interesting local form as that under con- 

 sideration should be ignored or forgotten for want of a name. 



173. Cecropis japonica, T. & S. 



The common Indian Red-rumped Swallow, doubtfully the 

 Hirundo daurica of Linnseus, but certainly the Hirundo 

 erythropygia of Sykes, is the eastern form of H. rufula, 

 Temm. It differs from the latter bird in being more dis- 

 tinctly striped on the underparts, and in having the chestnut 

 ring round the nape interrupted by the black of the head 

 joining that of the back. The chestnut band across the 

 rump varies in width from '6 to 1*2 in., and in colour from 

 pale to deep chestnut, and has generally a striolated appear- 

 ance owing to the feathers having dark shafts. The latter 

 character, however, is often absent. These variations have 

 given rise to several synonyms, H. japonica, Temm. et Schl., 

 H. ardivitta, Swinh., &c. Swinhoe^s collection contains a 

 series of thirteen of these birds ; but none of them are from 

 Japan. My own opinion is that the variations alluded to are 

 only such as arise from difference of age, sex, and season, 

 and that none of them entitle their possessors to rank as 

 subspecies or local forms. 



The Swallow mentioned by Capt. Blakiston from Kamt- 

 chatka (Ibis, 1878, p. 386) is no doubt H. americana, 

 Wilson, the oldest name of which bird is H. horreorum, 

 Barton, as has already been pointed out by Swinhoe (Ibis, 

 1876, p. 331)* 



174. COTYLE RIPARIA (L.). 



Four skins sent (Nos. 2501, 2502, 2503, & 2504) agree 

 exactly with skins from Archangel, the Petchora, and the 

 Yenesay. The primaries and the tail-feathers are perceptibly 

 darker than in the British and South-European form. The 



• [Butif, as we believe to be the case, the N.- and S.-American Swallows 

 are identical, H, erythrogmtra, Bodd., is the oldest name for the species. — 



Ed.] 



