90 Mr. R. Swinhoe on ike Ornithology of Northern China. 



genus. "In this genus there have hitherto been only two recognized 

 species — the European Martin (C urbica, L.) and the Cashmere 

 Martin (C. cashmiriensis, Gould), the Nipal Martin {Delichon 

 nipalensis, Moore) being of an intermediate form between the 

 true Martins and the Sand-Martins. The Cashmere Martin is 

 at once distinguishable from its English congener by its much 

 smaller size, by its deep-brown axillaries, and by its shorter and 

 much less furcate tail, as also by the browner colour of its upper 

 parts. That it is a good species there can be no doubt. Mr. 

 Whiteley's specimen, in the steel-blue colour of the upper parts, 

 assimilates to the European species, but differs from it strikingly 

 in its smaller size, in its much less emargiuate tail, in its deep- 

 brown axillaries, and in having the whole of the upper tail- 

 coverts pure white instead of steel-black at the tips. Its breast, 

 moreover, shows no sign of the partial brown band of the House- 

 Martin. Now, strange enough Capt. Blakiston has brought from 

 Hakodadi, Japan, another Martin, which, on the other hand, 

 resembles C. cashmiriensis in its proportions, in the colour of the 

 back, and in the almost even tail, but differs from it in having a 

 black chin, black instead of brown axillaries, and in having the 

 ends of the lower tail-coverts broadly tipped with black. Capt. 

 Blakiston assures me that his specimen is a mature male, shot 

 in July." 



The species of the genus Chelidon will therefore now stand as 

 follows : — 



(1.) C. urbica, L. 

 Hab, In Europa. 



(2.) C. cashmiriensis, Gould. 

 Minor prsecedente : Cauda breviore, subfurcata ; partibus superi- 

 oribus atris, vix purpureo-splendentibus : axillaribus fuscis. 

 Hab. In Cashmiria. 



(3.) C. blakistoni, n. sp. 

 Simillima C cashmiriensi, sed meuto, axillaribus et tectricum 

 infracaudalium apicibus atro-fuscis : gula nivea : subtus 

 fuscescens, rachidibus plumarum multarum, prsesertim crissi 

 et etiam uropygii, fuscis. 



Hab. In Japoniae ins. Ycsso. 



