HIRUNDO. 259 



The whole upper surface a very pale greyish earthy brown, very much paler 

 than the same parts in either P. rupestris or Cotyle sinensis, the quills only 

 slightly darker, yet sufficiently so to contrast pretty markedly with the scapu- 

 lars, back, rump and upper tail coverts ; the lateral tail feathers and all but the 

 external feather on each side with a large oval white spot on the inner web, 

 as in rupestris, and with dark shafts, and a darker tint on the web, near the 

 shaft, as in that latter species. Lower surface as in rupestris, but much paler, 

 the whole of the chin, throat, breast and abdomen being white, with only a 

 faint fulvous or rufous tinge ; wing lining and lower tail coverts the same 

 pale earthy grey brown as the upper surface. Bill black ; legs and feet horny 

 brown ; irides dark brown. {Hume, S. F. vol. I, p. 417.) 



Male, length 5*35 to 6 inches ; expanse 12-25 to *3 '> wing 4-4 to 4*7. 



Female, length 5-25 to 5-5 ; expanse I2'3 ; wing 4*510475; tail from 

 vent r8 to 2; tarsus 0-4. 



Hab, N.-E. Africa ; found also in Beloochistan, Kutch and N. Guzerat. 

 In Sind it is less common than the preceding species, and generally affects 

 hilly situations ; arrives during winter. 



Gen. Hirundo, Linn* TRUE SWALLOWS. 



Bill broad at the base, triangular and compressed at the tip ; wings long ; 

 tail long, furcate or subfurcate, the outer feathers on each side emarginate on 

 the inner web, and generally elongated to a great extent ; nostrils lateral, with 

 a distinct superior membrane ; tarsus moderate, nude ; feet moderate. 



772. Hirundo rustica Linn., Syst. Nat. i. p. 343; Gould, B. 



Eur. ii. pi. 54 ; Yarrell, Br. B. ii. p. 213; Hodgs., Icon, ined Br. Mus. 

 Passers, pi. 8; Bp., Comp. Av. i. p. 338 ; Jerd., B. Ind. i. p. 157, No. 82; 

 Godwin- Austen, J '. A. S. B. xxxix. p. 94; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 72; 

 id., Sir. F. 1874, p. 155 ; Dresser, B. Eur. iii. p. 477 ; Hume, Sir. F. 1875, 

 p. 451 (pt.); Blanf., East. Pers. ii. p. 215; Leggf, B. Ceylon, p. 587; 

 Hume, Sir. F. 1879, p. 84; Vidal, Str. F. 1880, p. 43 ; Reid, Sir. F. iSSi, 

 p. 16; Davidson, Str. F. 1882, p. 292; id., Str. F. 1883, p. 346; Seebohm, 

 Hist, Br. B. ii. 171 ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 102. The COMMON 

 SWALLOW. 



Before giving a description of this species it is due to Ornithologists who 

 have not access to the works issued by the British Museum, to transcribe here 

 Mr. Sharpe's observations in regard to " Hirundo rustica and its allies," and 

 every working Ornithologist will agree with him, that " the races of Chimney 

 Swallows are by no means easy to decipher," notwithstanding that they have 

 been the subject of much discussion." He recognizes only five species. 

 " Mr. Dresser," he says in his " Birds of Europe," does not distinguish the 

 Eastern Chimney Swallow (ff. gutturalis) from H. rustica, and says that the 

 latter merges gradually into H. erythrogastra, as it proceeds eastward^. 

 This certainly was my belief, but Mr. Sharpe thinks otherwise, and has given 



