342 Mr. A. L. Butler on the 



on the east to the Bahr-el-Ghazal and Kordofan. It is just 

 as tame and domestic in its habits as Hirundo rustica in 

 England, breeding fearlessly in occupied rooms and offices. 



I suspect that Mr. Witherby's informant, who told him 1 hat 

 the Common Swallow bred regularly in the Medical Officers' 

 quarters at Omdurman, mistook this species for it. At out- 

 stations, away from the rivers, these birds start nesting as 

 soon as the first heavy showers of the rains enable them to 

 obtain wet mud for the purpose. I find the following note 

 in a diary of mine : — 



" Gedaref, June 4-th, 1901. Bain at last — torrents of it 

 all night. The eight Swallows which inhabit m}^ room took 

 prompt advantage of the muddy pools which it had formed 

 all round, and commenced nest-building as soon as they 

 woke up. By eight o'clock there were four nests under way, 

 where yesterday there was not one ! " 



125. Hirundo s.mithi Leach. 



The beautiful Wire-tailed Swallow is, generally speaking, 

 decidedly uncommon. It is a water-loving bird, and the 

 absence of bridges and culverts, under which it usually nests, 

 confines it principally to those portions of the rivers which are 

 rocky. I have seen it at, and north of, Khartoum, but never 

 south on the White Nile. On the rocky Setit and the upper 

 portions of the Atbara, and on the Rahad and Dinder Rivers, 

 it is tolerably numerous. In these localities I have found its 

 nests placed against rocks, just above water-level, and seen 

 old birds accompanied by their young in March and April. 



126. Hiruxdo senegalexsis Linn. 



a. . Jebel Melbis, Kordofan, April 15, 1904. 



b. . „ „ „ April 18, 1904. 



These Swallows were frequenting the tallest " Baobab " 

 trees when I came across them. They were usually in pairs 

 or small parties. They have a steady circling flight, and 

 continually utter a single rather deep note. 



I have also noticed Rufous-backed Swallows at Gallabat 

 and on the Bahr-el-Ghazal, but I am not sure of the species ; 

 I am inclined to think that they were Hirundo rufula. 



