932 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. xxvirr. 



Family HIRUNDINID^E. 



PSALIDOPROCNE HOLOMELAS MASSAICA Neumann. 



Pmlkluprocne holomelama massaiea Neumann, Ornith. Monatsl)er., 1904, p. 144 

 (Kikuyu, British East Africa). 



This recently described form is similar to Psalidoprocne liolomelax 

 Jiolohielax^ ])ut much larger; the inferior wing-coverts and axillars are 

 paler brown, and the greenish metallic sheen of the plumage is more 

 pronounced. 



The description of an adult male, Cat. No. 118125, U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 collected by Doctor Abbott at Maranu on Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,000 

 feet, April 23, 1888, is as follows: Entire upper and lower parts black 

 with a decided greenish gloss; wings and tail deep blackish brown, 

 exteriorly with the same greenish tinge, the wing-quills lighter brown- 

 ish on at least the basal portion of the inner webs; under wing-coverts 

 and axillars still paler grayish brown. Four adult males, including 

 the one above described, measure as below: 



Locality. 



Maranu, Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,000 feet.. 



Do 



Do 



Foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, 3,000 feet . . . 



Average 



Date. 



Apr. 23,1888 



do 



do 



Apr. 25,1888 



A specimen of true holomelas^ of about average size, from Pinetown, 

 Natal, measures: Wing, 104; tail, 80; exposed culmen, 5; tarsus, 9 mm. 



Mr. Neumann failed to mention the much greater size, which is one 

 of the best characteis distinguishing this new form from the South 

 African hoi on t el as. The range of massaiea probably includes the 

 greater part, if not all, of German East Africa, and extends north- 

 ward to Mount Kenia, and to Mount Elgon whence it has been recorded 

 as Psalido}rrocne orienialis by Mr. Jackson.'* 



True Psalidoprocne holomelas was described by Sundevall* from 

 specimens collected at Port Natal, Natal, and is therefore the small 

 South African race, to which also clearly apply both the other syno- 

 nyms of the species.^' 



Besides the four specimens listed above, Doctor Abbott obtained a 

 single immature male at Taveta, August 19, 1888, which differs from 



«Ibi8, 1901, p. 95. See Shelley, Ibis, 1901, pp. 171-172. 



^ Hirundo /loZomeZas Sunde vail, Ofv. K. Vet.-Akad. F5rh. Stockholm, 1S50, p. 108. 

 •^ Atticora hamigera Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1850, p. 57, pi. xii (Port 

 Natal, Natal). 



Psalidoprooie cypseli7ia CahsLiuK, Mu.s. Hein., I, 1850, p. 48 (South Africa). 



