the Lower Yangtse Basin. 351 



On April 4th I met with a large flock in the country, 

 perched in a similar way in a copse behind a farm, and firing 

 into them brought down four of this species, and six of the 

 red-tailed A. japonicus, males and females in equal pro- 

 portion. 



The males of both species can be readily distinguished by 

 the brighter colour of the under tail-coverts and band on the 

 tail. 



109. Ampelis jAPONicus (Siebold). 



(203.) Ampelis phoenicopterus, T. & S. ; Swinhoe,P. Z. S. 

 1871, p. 374. 



Less common than the foregoing, but still occurs every 

 winter, and, as mentioned above, mixes with A. garrulus in 

 flocks. 



Fam. HiRUNDiNiD^. 



110. HiRUNDO GUTTURALIS, Scop. 



(193.) These Swallows begin to arrive in the middle of 

 March, and are numerous by the end of the month ; they 

 remain until the first week in November. A great many 

 nest in the shops and huts of the towns and villages, the 

 nests being placed within easy reach of the hand. The 

 natives protect them, and consider their presence of good 

 omen. 



111. HiRUNDO ALPESTRIS, Pall. 



(194, 195.) Arrives rather later than the last-named, and 

 leaves about the same time. Not nearly so common, but 

 still numerous enough. Also breeds in the natives'* houses. 



I can throw no light on the vexed question of the various 

 subspecies of this group, and all the specimens I have ex- 

 amined appear to be of one species. 



112. COTYLE RIPARIA (L.). 



(197.) Not very common, and I have not found their 

 breeding-haunts, but I have seen the birds on the Yangtse in 

 May, June, and July. 



113. Chelidon lagopus (Pall.). 



(200.) A specimen in the Shanghai Museum was taken 

 on Gutzlaff Island, at the mouth of the Yangtse. 



2b 2 



