Letters, Announcements, i^c. 445 



supposed uudescribed Harrier from the Philippine Islands, and 

 of another from the same locality identified by Prof. Schlegel 

 (Mus. P.-B. Circi, p. 3) with the North-American Circus hudso- 

 nius. When I visited the Museum at Leyden some months 

 since, I found that these two birds belonged to one and the 

 same species, and on a closer examination of the Leyden speci- 

 men I was convinced that it is merely an example of C. melano- 

 leucus in immature plumage. On mentioning this opinion to 

 Prof. Schlegel, I was glad to find that he agreed in my view, as 

 did also Mr. Blyth, who was at Leyden at the same time as 

 myself. 1 am, yours &c., J. H. Gurney. 



Sir, — During my last visit to Egypt I procured two birds, 

 which do not appear to have been hitherto described. I there- 

 fore take the present opportunity of bringing them to the notice 

 of ornithologists. The first I propose to call 



Cypselus pallidus, sp. nov. 



C. Cypselo apodi affinis, sed minor ; pallide grisescenti-brunneus ; 

 gutture toto alho ; pectore inferiore obsolete albo-marginato. 



Long tot. 0*5, alse 6"5, caudse 2*8 poll. angl. 



Above uniform brownish-grey, slightly inclining to white on 

 the fox'ehead and over the eye, in front of the eye blackish, 

 wing-coverts greyish-brown, with an obsolete white edging, 

 primary coverts rather darker ; quills dark greyish-brown, paler 

 on the inner webs, the outer web (especially of the primaries) 

 very dark (almost black on the last-mentioned feathers), tail 

 greyish-brown, uniform with the breast; cheeks and sides of 

 the neck pale greyish-brown ; entire throat white, and under- 

 surface of the body dark greyish -brown, the feathers on the 

 lower part of the breast having obsolete white tips. 



I have been for some time convinced that the common Swift 

 of Egypt forms an entirely distinct species from the well-known 

 C. apus, under which name it has been included in the various 

 lists of Egyptian birds. First, it difi"ers materially in the very 

 pale brown of the entire body, and in the greater extent of white 

 on the throat. These constitute the most striking characters, 



