Ornithology of Gilgit. 4t27 



and fourth are subequal^ and the first is intermediate in length 

 between the sixth and seventh. There is no appreciable vari- 

 ation in colour, all being of the same characteristic brownish- 

 buff tint. After careful comparison with the fine series of 

 Scops giu and allies in the British Museum, I do not doubt 

 that Scops brucii is a perfectly good and distinct species, 



30. HiRUNDo RusTicA, Liuu. 



Three females in my collection, shot in April and May, 

 have the wings 4-5 to 4-7 inches, and the tails 3"1 to 3"65. 

 All have a broad black pectoral band. 



31. HiRUNDo RUFULA, Tcmm. 



This Swallow is a summer visitor to Gilgit, but never 

 appears to be common. A female measured — length 6'6 

 inches, wing 4*35, tail 3*45 (to fork 1'7), tarsus 0*45, bill from 

 gape 0'55. From Hirundo nipalensis, to which Major Bid- 

 dulph referred it, the Gilgit red-rumped Swallow is distin- 

 guished by its smaller size, faintly striated lower surface, and 

 unstriated ear-coverts. In a note to Biddulph^s paper I 

 identified the species as H. erythropygia, Sykes ; but on fuller 

 examination I now feel satisfied that it is really Hirundo 

 rvfula. The difference between these two forms is slight : 

 H. erythropygia is smaller, and has the rump uniform chest- 

 nut, while H. rufula is larger, and has the chestnut rump 

 paling to nearly white towards the upper tail-coverts ; two 

 females of H. erythropygia have the wing 4'1 and 4' 3, and a 

 male 4'35 ; and five males of H. rufula have the wing 4*55 to 

 4'85, and five females 4*45 to 4'75. Now my Gilgit specimen 

 has the rump paling to white towards the tail, and, though 

 rather small, must be referred to H. rufula. 



32. COTILE RUPESTRIS (Scop.) . 



A summer visitor, arriving about the third week in March, 

 and very common in the lower valleys throughout April and 

 May. In the males collected the wings measure 5*1 to 5*4 

 inches, and in the females 4' 95 to 5. Eight specimens shot 

 in spring have dusky streaks and mottlings about the chin ; 

 in some this marking is confined to the point of the chin, 

 while in others it extends to the throat and cheeks. 



