HIRUNDINHX& 53 



79. Hirundo Rustica, Linn, PL Eni. 453, i ; 



*! European Chimney-Swallow; H. Domestica, Pall. 

 Gould, B. of Euro., PL 54. 



UPPER side steel-blue, with greenish reflections ; quill-fea- 

 thers of wing and tail rusty; throat and forehead deep 

 rufous ; under parts dull flesh-colour, with a broad collar 

 of the same colour as the back, joining the red throat ; tail 

 deeply forked ; the two outer feathers much prolonged ; all 

 the inner vanes with a patch of white, which together form 

 a distinct white bar, most visible on the under side. Length, 

 W ; wing, 5" ; tail, 4". 



The European swallow is a constant and common visitant to this 

 colony, but, as far as I have ascertained, does not appear to breed 

 with us, though I constantly see birds in young plumage. At the 

 time I am writing (April 2nd) a few stragglers are still here ; the main 

 body is, I think, gone. They do not appear to congregate, as in 

 Europe, previous to their departure ; nor have I ever seen them toge- 

 ther for any other purpose than hawking after flies, each on his own 

 business. It is scattered throughout the country. 



80. Hirundo Ruflfrons. (Vieii.) Ency. Meth., 



L'Hirondelle a front roux, Le Vail., PL 245, f. 2 ; 

 Cuv., Vol. 2 p. 64. 



UPPER parts brilliant metallic blue ; tail slightly inclining to 

 green ; forehead deep rufous ; tail broadly barred with white, 

 and forked ; underparts white, with a very pale rufous tinge 

 on the body ; breast with a steel blue collar, more or less 

 broken in the centre. Length, 6" 9'"; wing, 5" 5'"; 

 tail, 3" 6'". 



If any of our Cape swallows could be mistaken for the European 

 species, this would in all probability be the deceiver. In fact, for a 

 long time I was deceived by it, until one bright sunny morning, 

 while watching the flight of some of these lovely aerial creatures, it 

 struck me that the blue of the back and white of the breast looked 

 brighter than in the old country bird. For some time they confined 

 their course to the narrow river, on the bridge over which I stood, 

 but at last one strayed for an instant over the bank, a well-directed 

 shot laid him on the green sward, and I instantly recognised the true 

 H. Rufifrons of Le Vaillant. They were breeding beneath the bridge, 

 but I was unable at the time to get at the nests, which I have since 

 visited, and found to resemble those of the European bird in shape and 

 structure. Le Vaillant says he only found this species in the rainy 

 season (our winter). In this he is most undoubtedly mistaken, so far 

 as the Cape peninsula is concerned. 'J^o other swallow than C. 

 Fuligula remains with us during this time, whatever they may do in 

 the more inland districts ; but, from all I can gather from my corres- 

 pondents, I have no reason to think that even there they are to be 

 found in the winter. 



