HIRUNDO. 279 



816. Hirundo erythrogastra. The American Swallow. 



ilirundo erythrogaster, Bodd. Tabl. PL Enl. p. 4/5 (1783) 



Hirundo horreorum, Bart. Fraym. Nat. Hist. p. 17 (1799) ; Hume 



$ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 42 ; Hume, Cat. no. 82 quint. ; Gates, B. B. i, 



p. 303. 

 Hirundo erythrogastra, Bodd., Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 137. 



Coloration. Eesembles H. tytleri, and like it has an interrupted 

 pectoral band, but the plumage below the band is pale rufous, 

 whereas the chin, throat, and middle of the breast are chestnut. 



Of the same size as //. tytleri. 



Distribution. The only specimens of this species that I have seen 

 from within Indian limits are two procured by myself in February, 

 one at Toungngoo and one at Pegu. The former is adult and the 

 latter young. There are two typical adult specimens from Cochin 

 China in the British Museum. 



This Swallow is found in Eastern Asia and over the whole of the 

 continent of America as far south as Brazil. 



817. Hirundo javanica. The Nilgiri House-Swallow. 



Hirundo javanica, Sparrm. Mus. Carls, iv, pi. 100 (1789) ; Leyge, 

 Birds Ceyl p. 597 ; Hume, Cat. no. 83 ; Shar-pe, Cat. B. M. x, 

 p. 142 ; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 386. 



Hirundo doniicola, Jerd. Madr. Journ. L. S. xiii, p. 173 (1844) ; 

 Blyth, Cat. p. 198 j Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 384 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 158. 



Hypurolepsis domicola (Jerd.}, Hume, N. Sf E. p. 73. 



Hypurolepis javanica (Sparrm.), Oates, B. B. \, p. 308. 



Coloration. A broad band on the forehead, the chin, throat, upper 

 breast, cheeks, and ear-coverts deep ferruginous ; lores dusky ; 

 upper plumage glossy black ; wings and tail dark brown, slightly 

 glossy on the outer webs ; the tail with an oval spot on all the inner 

 webs of the feathers except those of the median pair ; lower plumage 

 pale ashy, albescent on the abdomen ; under tail-coverts ashy, the 

 feathers with white tips and subterminal patches of black. 



The young bird is without gloss above and has some of the 

 secondaries margined with rufous. 



Bill black ; legs and claws lighter black ; iris dark brown. 



Length about 5; tail 2-1; wing 4'2 ; tarsus '4; bill from 

 gape '65 ; bifurcation of tail '3. 



Distribution. Ceylon and Southern India as far north as the 

 Nilgiris, being resident and confined to the higher parts of the hills ; 

 Tenasserim ; the Andanians. This species extends down the Malay 

 peninsula and is found throughout the islands. 



Habits, fyc. Breeds from February to June, constructing a cup- 

 shaped mud nest in bungalows and outbuildings and laying three 

 eggs, which are white spotted with brown and purple and measure 

 about *7 by *5. 



