278 



Coloration. Resembles H. rustica, but the chestnut of the throat 

 encroaches on the black pectoral band so as to nearly sever it down 

 the middle of the breast ; the lower plumage below the pectoral 

 band is pure white. 



Length about 6-5 ; tail 3-6 ; wing 4-6 ; tarsus -4 ; bill from 

 gape *6; bifurcation of tail 1*7. 



Typical examples of this Swallow from Japan and North-eastern 

 Asia are very distinct from H. rustica, the lower plumage being 

 pure white and the pectoral band severed in two by the encroach- 

 ment of the chestnut of the throat. Many examples procured in 

 Burma are sufficiently typical to be easily recognizable, but the 

 majority of Swallows from the eastern portion of the Empire are 

 quite intermediate between the two species. 



Distribution. Common in winter over the whole of the Empire 

 east of the Bay of Bengal and extending to Assam and Bengal. 

 The western limits of this species cannot be determined with any 

 accuracy, as many birds from the continent of India are quite inter- 

 mediate between H. rustica and H. gutturalis, and I have seen no 

 bird which could unhesitatingly be assigned to H. gutturalis from 

 any point west of Calcutta. This species ranges from North-eastern 

 Asia to the Malay islands and Singapore. 



815. Hirundo tytleri. Tytler's Sivallow. 



Hirundo tytleri, Jerd. B. I. iii, App. p. 870 (1864) ; Hume, S. F. 

 i\i, p. 41 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 466 ; Hume $ Lav. 

 8. F. vi, p. 41 ; Hume, Cat. no. 82 ter ; Simson, Ibis, 1882, p. 84 ; 

 Oates, B. B. i, p. 304 j Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 140. 



Coloration. Eorehead rufous ; lores black ; whole upper plumage 

 glossy purplish blue ; wing-coverts brown, margined with glossy 

 purplish blue ; quills black, suffused with glossy green ; tail brown, 

 all the feathers, except the middle pair, with a patch of white on 

 the inner web ; the whole lower plumage chestnut, the chin and 

 throat very little if at all darker than the other parts ; sides of the 

 head and neck, continued to the sides of the breast and forming a 

 pectoral band, interrupted in the middle, glossy purplish blue. 



Length 6-5 to 7 ; tail up to 4 ; wing 4-8 ; tarsus -45 ; bill from 

 gape -6. 



Distribution. A common but uncertain visitor to the eastern 

 parts of the Empire. This species has been observed in Sadiya, 

 Dacca, Cachar, the Khasi hills, Manipur, Pegu, and Tenasserim, 

 and there are specimens from all these parts in the British Museum. 

 It has been obtained during February, March, April, May, and 

 June ; and it may breed on or near the eastern borders of Assam 

 and Burma. It occurs in Eastern Siberia and Kamtschatka and 

 probably has a very wide range. Some specimens of Swallows 

 from Peru and Brazil in the British Museum are perfectly undis- 

 tinguishable from H. tytleri. 



