109 
Vespertinus is the common species, and is indeed so numerous, 
that in a letter, dated 16th February, 1866, Mr. Anderson writes 
to me, that it appears during the wet season in incredible num- 
bers : they then come, not by thousands, but literally by tens of 
thousands. 
Of the specific distinction between HH. Amurensis and £. 
Vespertinus { cannot entertain the slightest doubt. The adult 
male of the former differs from that of the latter, in having the 
under wing coverts of a pure white, instead of a slaty black, as 
well as in the slightly darker colouring of its upper parts. ‘The 
female of #. Amurensis differs from the female of the other 
species, in the absence of rufous colouring on the head, neck and 
under parts, except the thighs and under tail coverts, which 
are rufous in it, as in the female of 4. Vespertinus, and 
also excepting avery slight rufous tinge on the sides of 
the neck and throat, and on the under wing coverts, near 
the carpal joint. ‘The plumage of all the under parts in 
the female of #, Amurensis, excepting that of the throat (which 
is pure white) the thighs and the under tail coverts, is strongly 
marked with ovate and sagittate spots of dark slaty black on a 
white ground; which markings assume a transverse form on 
the under wing-coverts and lower flank feathers, and produce 
a general appearance of the under parts considerably resembling 
the front view of the adult common Hobby (ypotriorchis 
Subbuteo).” 
I have been unable to ascertain to which form our Indian 
species belongs, perhaps both forms occur. It isto be hoped 
that some of my numerous coadjutors will make a point of 
securing good specimens. ‘They seem tolerably common in some 
localities. Mr. R. Thompson writing from [cumaon, says— 
“¢ Whilst up under the snow line in the month of September, 
I observed large parties of these birds hovering about catching 
insects, and occasionally alighting on the ledges of rock. Hight 
to twenty birds have been seen together hovering about like 
swallows. In October last year, I saw several hovering over the 
Nynee Tal valley, and remember later, seemg one down in the 
lains.”’ 
Per contra, Dr. Stoliczka writing from the Hills north and east 
of Simla, tells us, that this species is rarely seen in the interior 
of the Himalayas, and then only in the lower Hills. 
There is this, however, to be said ; Yarrell informs us, that this 
species ‘‘is a native of Russia, Poland, and Austria from whence 
it passes southward” and westward to the shores and islands of 
the Mediterranean. It undoubtedly occurs in Turkey in Asia, 
Palestine and northern Africa, and at least as far south on that 
