164 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



HiRUNDO DAURICA ERYTHROPYGIA. 



Syke's Striated Swallow. 



Hirundo erythropygia (Oates, Vol. II., p. 283 ; Legge, p. 594). 



Description. — Upper plumage down to the lower back, with 

 the lesser and median wing coverts glossy steel-blue ; rump 

 and shorter upper tail coverts chestnut ; longer taU coverts 

 glossy -black ; remainder of wing and the tail dark brown with 

 a blue gloss on the outer webs ; lores brown ; the feathers 

 under the eye mixed brown and rufous ; ear coverts and a 

 partial collar on the hind-neck chestnut ; sides of the neck 

 glossy-blue ; the whole lower plumage pale rufous with fine 

 brown shaft-streaks ; under tail coverts tipped with black. 



Bill and legs black ; iris brown. 



Length 6*5; wing 4*3; tail 3 ' 2 ; tarsus • 5 ; bill from 

 gape '45. 



Distribution. — ^The Indian race of this Swallow is found, 

 over the greater part of the plains of India as far south as the 

 Nilgiris. It is the merest straggler to Ceylon, having been 

 recorded once from the Jaffna peninsula and once from the 

 Uva hills near Haputale. 



Habits. — In India this species is found round mosques and 

 other buildings, and also in the vicinity of walls and bridges. 

 The flight is comparatively slow. 



HniUNDO HYPERYTHRA. 



The Ceylon Swallow. 



Hirundo hyperythra (Oates, Vol. II., p. 284 ; Legge, p. 592). 



Description. — Whole upper plumage, including wings and 

 tail, glossy blue-black, except the rump and shorter upper 

 taO coverts, which are dark chestnut ; whole under surface 

 and sides of neck chestnut with narrow indistinct brown 

 shaft-streaks, except on the vent and lower tail coverts ; the 

 latter have broad black tips. 



In young birds the chestnut parts are paler, the streaks on 

 the throat and fore -neck are broader, and the breast is mottled 

 with blackish-brown. 



Bill blackish-brown ; iris sepia-brown ; legs and feet vinous- 

 brown. 



