1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON ETHIOPIAN HIRUNDINID&, 287 
firmly believe, is not represented in the Ethiopian Region. It must 
be remembered that the type of the genus Aéticora is the Hirundo 
fasciata of Gmelin, a Brazilian species, remarkable for its small 
round nostrils, which are devoid of any overhanging membrane. 
Professor Baird states that the only two specimens of 4. fasciata 
examined by him had only ten tail-feathers: but this must have 
been accidental ; for I examined the large series recently brought home 
by Mr. Edward Bartlett from the Peruvian Amazons, and every bird 
had its full complement of twelve tail-feathers. Admitting that 
Petrochelidon, which is represented in Africa, is a distinct genus 
from Atticora, which I consider to have been satisfactorily proved 
by Professor Baird, I submit that a species of true A¢ticora has yet 
to be discovered :n Africa, until which time the genus must be 
banished from the catalogue of its avifauna. 
In the consideration of the rest of the family I follow Professor 
Baird in deeming the nostrils to be the chief distinguishing charac- 
teristic, and particular attention must be paid to the presence or 
absence of an overhanging membrane on the upper edge of the nos- 
tril. In the true Swallows and Martins itis always present, while in 
the Atticora group it is not developed. The genera and subgenera 
included by Professor Baird in this latter group are Progne, Pheo- 
progne, Petrochelidon, Atticora, Notiochelidon, Neochelidon, Pygo- 
chelidon, and Stelgidopteryx, of which number, however, the learned 
Professor only admits Petrochelidon, Atticora, and Stelgidopteryx 
as worthy of generic rank. As before mentioned, it is my intention 
to separate the latter genus along with Psalidoprocne as a distinct 
subfamily. It is, however, more with Professor Baird’s second 
group of Swallows, in which he includes the genera and subgenera 
Hirundo, Tachycineta, Cotyle, and Callichelidon, that we have to 
deal in the present paper, inasmuch as, Tachycineta and Cal- 
lichelidon being admitted to be only subgenera, we have left 
Hirundo and Cotyle, both of which are strongly represented in the 
Ethiopian Region. I think, however, Professor Baird has laid too 
much stress on the small tuft of feathers on the inner base of the 
tarsus as a generic character of Cotyle; for in our common Sand- 
Martin (Cotyle riparia), the only American species of the genus, this 
is indeed very strongly developed, but in every other species of the 
genus that I have seen it is absolutely wanting, and should there- 
fore be taken as of specific rather than of generic importance. The 
genus Chelidon is easy to distinguish, by reason of the densely fea- 
thered tarsi. Waldenia has been lately proposed by me for the 
reception of the Hirundo nigrita of Gray. My friend Dr. O. Finsch 
thinks that this bird is only subgenerically separable from Progne ; 
but although in many respects there is a resemblance, yet in the 
bareness of the upper joint of the tarsus in Waldenia is very different 
from Progne, which has it densely feathered, and this character 
alone is of strong generic importance. I have in conclusion to 
thank the many kind friends who have lent me specimens or other- 
wise assisted me in the preparation of the present paper. 
Treating the subject in precisely the same manner as Messrs, 
