320 MR. SWINHOE ON BIRDS FROM TIENTSIN. [Nov, 25, 
52. Toranus catinris, L. 
Tn fine summer plumage. 
53. Limosa RUFA. 
In fine summer plumage. 
54. ARDETTA SINENSIS, Gmel. 
55. Rauuus rnpicus, Blyth. 
Identical with Indian specimens. 
56. PoRZANA BAILLONI. 
Identical with British specimens. 
I have purposely deferred to the last a skin, unfortunately with 
the wings clipped, of a species of House Martin (Chelidon). Of 
this genus there have hitherto been only two recognized species—the 
common European Martin (C. urbica, L.) and the Cashmere Martin 
(C. cashmerensis, Gould), the Nepal Martin (Delichon nipalensis, 
Moore) being of an intermediate form between the true Martins and 
the Sandmartins. The Cashmere Martin is at once distinguishable 
from its English congener by its much smaller size, by its deep brown 
axillaries, and by its shorter and much less furcate tail, as also by the 
browner colour of its upper parts. That it is a good species, there 
can be no doubt. Mr. Whiteley’s specimen, a mature bird, in the 
steel-blue colour of the upper parts assimilates to the European bird ; 
but differs from it strikingly in its smaller size, in its much less 
emarginate tail, in its deep brown axillaries, and in having the whole 
of its upper tail-coverts pure white, instead of partially steel-black. 
Its breast, moreover, shows no sign of the partial brown band of the 
House Martin. Now, strange enough, Capt. Blakiston has brought 
from Hakodadi, Japan, another Martin, which, on the other hand, 
assimilates to C. cashmerensis in its proportions, colour of the back, 
and almost even tail; but differs from it in having a black chin, black 
instead of brown axillaries, and in having the ends of the lower tail- 
coverts broadly tipped with black. For the Japanese species I would 
suggest the name C. blakistoni, after its discoverer; and for the 
Pekin bird the name C. whiteleyi, after the gentleman to whom this 
collection belongs, and to whom we are indebted for the privilege of 
exhibiting before this Society this interesting series of North China 
birds. 
Note.—Since the above was read before the Society, I have perused 
carefully the description of the House Martin of Siberia, given in 
Pallas’s ‘ Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica,’ and find that the bird therein 
described at full length answers in every respect to Mr. Whiteley’s 
bird from Pekin, and does not agree with the European Martin 
(Chelidon urbica, L.), to which it has been wrongfully referred by 
later Russian ornithologists. ‘The name of the Pekin species will 
therefore have to stand Chelidon lagopoda, Pallas.—R. 8. 
