152 Mr. J. H. Gurney's Notes on 



74!. Cypselus gutturalis, Vieill., N. Diet. cFHist. Nat. xix. 

 p. 4.22 i Tristram, P.Z.S. 1867, p. 887. South-African Alpine 

 Swift. 



75. Cypselus BARBATUS, Sclater, P.Z.S. 1865, p. 599. South- 

 African Black Swift. 



The Hev. H. B. Tristram, in a paper read before the Zoolo- 

 gical Society of London, on 14th November,! 867,has shown that 

 the two European Swifts, C. melba and C. ajms, are specifically 

 distinct from the nearly allied representative species of South 

 Africa, which latter should respectively bear, as above, the names 

 of C.'gutturalis, VieilL, and C. barbatus, Sclater [ex M/S.Temm.). 



76. Cypselus caffer, Licht. White-rumped Swift. 



The nidification of this Swift in South Africa, as described 

 by Mr. Layard, and as also noticed in the Transvaal by Mr. 

 Ayres (Ibis, 1868, p. 50), differs from its habits in this respect 

 as observed in Sennaar by Dr. Vierthaler (Naumannia, 1852, 

 pt. i. p. 34) and his companion, who found it breeding in holes 

 about two feet in length and terminating in a basin. These 

 holes were pierced in a steep river-bank; and in one of them a 

 sitting bird of this species was captured on her nest, which 

 contained three white eggs. 



84. HiRUNDo ATROC.ERULEA, Sundcv. Little Blue-black 

 Swallow. 



Mr. Layard inadvertently misquotes Mr. Ayres's observations 

 (Ibis, 1863, p. 322) as to this species. Mr. Ayres does not say 

 that it is the " most common," but the " most uncommon " of 

 the Swallows of Natal. 



-V 86. HiRUNDO ALFREDi, Hartl. Prince Alfred^s Swallow. 



Mr. Tristram has recently received from Mr. Ayres a Swallow 

 obtained in the Transvaal, which appears to be identical with 

 that described by Mr. Layard in his ' Catalogue ' under the 

 name of H. lunifrons ; but, though allied to that American spe- 

 cies, this Swallow is specifically distinct from it. Dr. Hart- 

 laub, who has examined one of the specimens sent over by Mr. 

 Ayres, agrees with me in this opinion, and also in considering 

 that the South-African bird belongs to an undescribed species. 



