1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON ETHIOPIAN HIRUNDINIDE. 289 
dusky, the outer edge of the external primary not serrated*, and 
the tail less forked. 
Hab. Cape Colony (Layard, Surtees) ; Swellendam (Cairncross) ; 
Knysna (Andersson); Natal (Ayres); Gold Coast, Saccondé (Pel, 
Mus. Lugd.); Ashantee (Mus. Brit.). 
As the typical specimens of the present species came from Natal, 
I have thought it best to describe a bird from that locality; and I 
have therefore taken my description from a fine male, collected 
by Mr. Ayres in Natal, and kindly lent to me by the Rev. H. B. 
Tristram. There are also specimens from Natal in the British 
Museum, and Mr. Gray is inclined to keep them distinct from the 
Cape-Colony specimens ; but I cannot agree to separate them, as the 
only difference is the slightly brighter ‘plumage of the Natal bird. 
This I take to be a seasonal distinction ; for the adult specimen from 
the Gold Coast in the Leyden } Museum is equally brightly glossed. 
Although this Swallow is apparently a migrant, the exact range of 
its migration is not yet quite satisfactorily defined. Mr. Cairncross, 
who has contributed some interesting notes to Mr. Layard’s ‘ Birds 
of South Africa,’ states in that work that, although met with in the 
neighbourhood of Swellendam, it does not appear to breed there. 
Mr. Layard himself observed the bird in the Knysna district ‘* appa- 
rently breeding in holes in the banks, but he was unable to investi- 
gate its doings more closely.” Specimens of Psalidoprocne obscura 
(Temm.), which species is nothing but the young of the present 
species, are in the British and Leyden Museums. I have examined 
the type of Temminck’s Atticora obscura in the latter collection, 
and am satisfied about this identification. The original specimen 
was collected by Pel along with fully adult birds of Ps. holomelena 
on the Gold Coast. I may mention that Mr. G. R. Gray also agrees 
with me in considering the Aéticora obscura of Hartlaub to be only 
the young of Psalidoprocne holomelena ; nor will this conclusion, I 
believe, be called in question by any one who examines the birds in 
the British Museum. 
I subjoin the measurements of the West-African specimens above 
mentioned, in juxtaposition with a large series in my own collection 
from Southern Africa. 







No.|Sex.} Locality. Authority. ye Al. Caud. Remarks. 
de, sets || AO. Boutry. S| Peliten ase es A) AUS HO Gl hoe 
Pata MACCONAG. co sa. dele «ove « 64 | 3-7 |....| | Types of Ps. ob- 
3. |....| Elmina Nagtlas SAO aD” |Pe scura (Temm.). 
4.| g | Caffraria....| Wahlberg oy” Wk a a ae 
5. |....| Ashantee Mus. Brit 44 | 34 | 23 
Gulia Natale. ....5% Atyare sie scajsial 54 | 41 | 3:0 
7. | ¢ |S. Africa....| Layard ..../ G0 | 43 | 3:25 
‘Sista ey aye Rend a a Se ORlea|! Aah loses 
OFF 3 ee--| Surtees ....| 63 | 44 | 3:6 
10. | g | Knysna ....| Andersson ..} 5:8 | 4:35) 3°6 
TM aes eee 4 «.| D8 |, 43] 3:3 
12.| ¢ n - 5:5 | 435) 3:25 
13. | 9 a ar = 53 | 38 | 2°7 
a as ie 51 | 4-0 | 24 
15. | 9 Ay 3 Se | oom 2c0 





* In the genus Ste/gidopteryx also the female differs from the male in not 
haying the outer primary serrated. 
