284 HIRTJNDINID^E. 



824. Hirundo rufula. The European Striated Swallow. 



Hirundo rufula, Temm. Man. 2 e ed. iii, p. 298 (1835); Wardlaw 

 Ramsay. Ibis, 1880, p. 48 ; Scully, His, 1881, p. 427; Sharpe, Cat. 

 B. M. x, p. 156. 



Hirundo scullii, Seebohm., Ibis, 1883, p. 167 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, 

 p. 158. 



Coloration. Resembles H. eryihropyyia, but has the striations on 

 the lower plumage even finer, and the chestnut on the rump paling 

 off to creamy white posteriorly : much larger. 



Bill blackish ; iris blackish brown ; feet dark brown (Dresser). 



Length about 7'5 ; tail 4 ; wing 4- 8 ; tarsus '55 ; bill from gape 

 6 ; bifurcation of tail 2-3. 



Mr. Seebohm has separated a small form of this species from. 

 Nepal as H. scullii. As this only differs from H. rufula in being 

 very slightly smaller, 1 do not propose to keep it distinct. On 

 examining the type of H. scullii, kindly lent to me for the purpose 

 by Mr. Seebohm. I have strong doubts as to whether it belongs to 

 H. rufula or to H. nepalensis. The rump pales slightly posteriorly 

 it is true, but not more so than in many specimens of undoubted 

 //. nepalensis ; the striations, however, on the lower plumage appear 

 to me to be too coarse for H. rufula. Fortunately, the occurrence 

 of this latter species within Indian limits rests on other evidence 

 than that of this dubious specimen collected in Nepal, Dr. Scully 

 having obtained H. rufula in Grilgit, where its presence was not 

 unexpected. Major Wardlaw Ramsay also procured an undoubted 

 specimen of this species at Byan Khel in Afghanistan, and this is 

 deposited in the British Museum. 



Distribution. Found in Gilgit in summer, and probably extends 

 along the Himalayas to Nepal. This Swallow ranges westwards 

 into Europe and Africa, and is also found in Central Asia. 



825. Hirundo hyperythra. The Ceylon Siuallow. 



Hirundo hyperythra, Layard, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii, p. 814 (1849) ; 

 id. Cat. p. 198; Legye, Birds Ceyl. p. 592 ; Hume Cat. no. 85 quint. ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 167 j Oates in Hume's N. E. 2nd ed. ii. 

 p. 201. 

 Wcehcelaniya, Cing. 



Coloration. Bump and the shorter upper tail-coverts deep chest- 

 nut ; with this exception, the whole upper plumage, wings, and 

 tail glossy steel-blue ; sides of the head and whole lower plumage 

 deep chestnut with narrow shaft-streaks ; terminal half of under 

 tail- co verts black. 



Iris sepia-brown : bill deep brown, in some blackish, base of 

 lower mandible reddish ; legs and feet vinous-brown (Legge). 



Length about 6-5 ; tail 3-3 ; wing 4 7 ; tarsus -55 ; bill from 

 gape -6 ; bifurcation of tail 1-4. 



Distribution. Confined to Ceylon. A similar but very much 

 larger Swallow (H. badia} occurs at Malacca. 



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

 nest of mud under bridges or in outhouses. The eggs are pure 

 white, and measure about -85 by *56. 



