HIRUNDO. 277 



y l . Striations on lower plumage 



hardly broader than the shafts . . H. erythropygia, p. 283. 

 d". Rump paling posteriorly and be- 

 coming creamy white IT. rufula, p. 284. 



d 1 . Lower plumage chestnut, quite as dark 



as the ear-coverts //. hyperythra, p. 284. 



813. Hirundo rustica. The Swallow. 



Hirimdo rustica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 343 (17G6) ; Blyth, Cat. p. 197 ; 

 Jerd. B. I. i, p. 157; Hume, N. 8f E. p. 72; Anders. Yunnan 

 Exped., Aves, p. C49 ; Legge, Birds Ceyl p. 587 ; Hume, Cat. no. 82 ; 

 Oates, B. B. i, p. 302 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 79 ; Sharpe, Cat. 

 B. M. x, p. 128 ; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd eel. ii, p. 184. 

 The Common Swallow, Jerd. ; Ababil, Hind. ; Talli-illedi kuravi, Tarn. ; 

 Wanna [kovela, Tel.; Paras pitta of the Mharis and Gonds; Tdm pddi, 

 Tarn. ; Pyan-hhca, Burm. ; Wcchcelaniya, Cing. 



Coloration. Forehead, chin, and throat chestnut; lores black; 

 upper plumage and wing-coverts glossy purplish blue ; quills and 

 tail black suffused with glossy green, all the tail-feathers, except 

 the middle pair, with a white patch on the inner web ; sides of the 

 head and neck and a very broad pectoral band glossy black, a few 

 of the feathers of the latter part narrowly fringed with chestnut ; 

 lower plumage from the pectoral band downwards pale rufous, 

 becoming rather darker on the under tail-coverts. 



The young bird does not differ very much from the adult, but 

 has the colour of its plumage very dull. 



Bill black ; feet black ; iris dark brown. 



Length up to 8 ; tail up to 4*5 ; wing 5 ; tarsus '5 ; bill from 

 gape *6 ; bifurcation of tail about 2-7. 



Distribution. Every portion of the Empire, breeding throughout 

 the whole range of the Himalayas and being found in the plains 

 during the winter. Young birds of this species are to be met 

 with in the plains at nearly all times of the summer in small numbers. 



The Swallow has an enormous range, being found over the whole 

 of Europe and Africa and over a great part of Asia. 



Habits, $c. Breeds throughout the Himalayas in April and May 

 from 4000 to 7000 feet, constructing its nest of mud, lined with 

 feathers, in outbuildings, verandahs of houses, and sheds. The 

 eggs, four or five in number, are white or pale pink speckled with 

 red and purple, and measure about -76 by '53. 



814. Himndo gutturalis. TJie Eastern Sivallow. 



Hirundo gutturalis, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr. ii,p. 96 (1786) ; 



Hume Sf Dav. S. F. vi, p. 41 ; Hume, Cat. no. 82 bis ; Sharpe, Cat. 



B. M. x, p. 134. 

 Ilirundo panayana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i, p. 1018 (1788) ; Horsf. Sf M. 



Cat. \, p. 91. 

 Hirundo andamanensis, Tytler, Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 316 ; Ball, S. F. 



i,p.r>5 



