246 MESSRS. SHARPE AND DRESSER [Apr. 28, 
steel-blue, but the head all brown, except a few blue feathers coming 
on the side; first primaries unmoulted, as also are some of the se- 
condaries and tail-feathers ; the throat almost entirely rufous, except 
the chin, which still remains somewhat whitish; breast-band be- 
coming distinct, a few rufous feathers intermixed, washed with deep 
steel-blue; rest of the under surface of the body deep buff, especially 
on the under wing- and tail-coverts, which are almost chestnut. 
The quills and tail are too much abraded to give satisfactory mea- 
surements. 
No. 6. (Male, shot at the Knysna by the late Mr. C. J. Anders- 
son on the 2nd of January, 1866 ; mus. R. B.S.) Apparently a 
bird of the previous year putting on its full spring plumage, as it has 
a trace of the swollen yellow skin at the gape; upper plumage very 
bright steel-blue, and the red forehead well marked ; no trace of white 
on the throat, and the breast-band dark steel-blue with red feathers 
intermixed; under surface of the body rich buff, especially dark on 
the under wing- and tail-coverts ; the quills and tail abraded and not 
thoroughly moulted, though the new feathers are coming rapidly. 
No. 7. (Sent from the Cape Colony by Mr. E. L. Layard ; mus. 
R. B.S.) Apparently about the same age as the last specimen, but 
the head brownish, only just beginning to assume the steel-blue 
appearance, the rest of the upper surface very bright steel-blue ; 
frontlet distinctly marked but very narrow; throat and breast-band 
as in the last specimen, but the under surface of the body white, with 
a faint buff tinge on the under wing- and tail-coverts; quills and 
tail only partially moulted, much worn. 
Nos. 8 and 9. (Male and female, shot at Cookham, in Berkshire, 
by Mr. J. Ford, on the 19th of April, 1869 ; mus. R. B.S.) Above 
most brilliant steel-blue; quills and tail washed with greenish steel- 
blue; forehead and throat deep chestnut ; band on the breast steel- 
blue; under surface deep buff, particularly on the under wing- and 
tail-coverts. Total length 8 inches; wing 51; tail to tip of outer 
feather 4°5. The female is somewhat smaller, the frontlet and throat 
not quite so deep, the belly white, and the tail shorter, with the spots 
on the latter smaller. Total length 7 inches; wing 4°9; tail 37. 
No. 10. (Female, fully moulted, obtained in Natal by Mr. Ayres ; 
mus. H. B. Tristram.) Similar to No. 9 (2), excepting that the 
head is duller, the feathers of the crown being slightly intermixed with 
brown, and the frontlet and throat not of such a deep rufous colour. 
No. 11. (Male, shot at Tiberias on the 27th of February, 1864, 
by Mr. Tristram.) Differs in no way whatsoever from No, 8 (¢). 
From the examination of these specimens the following conclu- 
sions are derived ; and we earnestly beg our ornithological readers to 
assist us in the further elucidation of this most complicated ques- 
tion ; but we must remark that it will be necessary to have a large 
series of carefully authenticated specimens before the subject can be 
approached. We have at the present moment a series of forty-five 
skins lying before us from all portions of the globe where Hirundo 
rustica is found. 
