248 ON THE COMMON SWALLOW. [Apr. 28, 
has yet to be thoroughly confirmed. The statements of Professor 
Blasius, which are reproduced in Dr. Bree’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ (vol. 
iii. p. 171), need confirmation as to its interbreeding with the 
Common Swallow and being generally found in Europe ; for we have 
every reason to believe that the adult spring plumage of H. rustica, 
when the under surface is deeply suffused with buff, has been mis- 
taken for H. riocouri. The latter bird may always be distinguished 
from the Common Swallow by the uniform chestnut tint of the whole 
under surface below the chest-band, and also by the spots on the 
tail being of a pale rufous colour and not white. The range of the 
H. riocouri is limited to Palestine and Egypt, extending not further 
south than Nubia; and in these countries it is not migratory. In 
confirmation of the above remarks we may quote from the writings 
of Dr. von Heuglin (Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 152) and Dr. Tristram (Ibis, 
1867, p. 361). 
“ Hirundo cahirica,’’ writes the former author, “in mode of 
nidification and song, as far as I know, hardly differs from H. rus- 
tica; but it is a resident in Egypt, though not so further south *. 
It breeds in the months of January to April. In Arabia 1 have 
observed the true H. rustica, but not in the bright-breasted plumage, 
which latter, however, I have never found in the breeding-season in 
company with H. eahirica.” 
We also add his remarks on H. rustica (Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 151). 
“Tn the beginning of March to early in May, and between August and 
October, this bird is frequently seen in companies on the migration, 
often mixing with other species along the Nile and the Red Sea, and 
even on the true steppes. On the 15th of November, 1857, I even 
observed on the Somali coast a flight of migrating Chimney-Swal- 
lows, and believe that they extend their migrations far to the south 
of the equator, according to Ayres to Natal. Amongst the Chim- 
ney-Swallows which are found during the summer on the Red Sea I 
have never observed H. cahirica.”’ 
Dr. Tristram says (/. e.)—‘* Hirundo cahirica remains the whole 
year, and is found both on the coast (in the maritime plains) and 
throughout the length of the Jordan valley. No one can observe 
this bird in the Holy Land without being satisfied of its distinctness 
from Hirundo rustica. It is true we can give no other diagnosis 
than the difference of coloration on the lower parts, these being 
chestnut instead of white or brownish white ; but of the hundreds of 
Swallows of both sexes to be seen throughout the winter not one of 
the common sort could be detected. There is neither fading nor 
intensifying of the chestnut lower plumage at any time of the year. 
Specimens shot atall seasons are preciselysimilar. In spring their 
numbers rapidly increase ; and from the middle of March they become 
distributed over the whole country, the higher as well as the lower 
grounds, while along with them appear many of our common species. 
In the higher grounds these perhaps predominate ; in the lower cer- 
tainly the Hirundo cahirica is most numerous. I never could detect 
* A specimen from Nubia, collected by Riippell, is in the Leyden Museum,— 
R. B.S. 
