BIRDS OF TENASSERIM. 41 



286 ; V., 16 ; but I am now doubtful whether it is necessary to 

 separate these. 



The larger race on the Nicobars is very close to our present 

 species, but runs smaller. 



The Sikkim and Bhotan form is also very close to our pre- 

 sent species. I formerly adopted for these Hodgson's name 

 nipalensis ; but, by reference to his original drawing, I found 

 that he applied this name to lugubris, which occurs in the 

 Cachar of Nepal and in the Terai, and which is conspicuously 

 distinct form the dark hill form which I referred to above as 

 being very close to the present species. 



82 bis.— Hirundo gutturalis, Scop. (43). 



(Tonghoo, Rams.) Khyketo ; Thatone ; Moulmeinj Amherst; Tavoyj 

 Tenasseriia Town j Sadjin ; Cbonngtbapee ; Malewoon. 



Excessively common everywhere throughout the province, 

 wherever there are clearings or open spaces. 



All our specimens from Tenasserim belong to the smaller 

 race separated as gutturalis. I can discover no structural 

 differences between this and rustica, but it is constantly 

 smaller, and is as a rule more generally rufescent ou the lower 

 parts than the European bird. Some specimens are difficult to 

 separate from tytleri, and in fact there are many immature 

 birds which may be either pale specimens of tytleri or specially 

 rufescent ones of gutturalis. 



In Sindh, Guzerat, and Western India generally we get, 

 almost exclusively, true rustica, with a wing 4-8 to 5'0, and a 

 tail from 47 to 5. Of gutturalis the measurements of the finest 

 specimens we have out of over 40 are : Wing 4'3 to 4-55 and ' 

 tail, 3-7 to 4-2. 



Throughout India specimens occur, which may be almost 

 indifferently assigned to either species, with wings varying 

 from 4*4 to 4'8, and tails from 4- to 4-8. But, as I said, for the 

 most part the specimens from the west of Continental India 

 are pretty typical rustica, while in the East, as in Eastern 

 Bengal, Assam, Burma, and Tenasserim, all the specimens are 

 either gutturalis or are birds of an intermediate size, between 

 what we call gutturalis and rustica. 



In comparing a large series of European and Tenasserim 

 specimens, I can discover no constant difference in the shape of 

 the bills. Gutturalis, therefore, appears to me to be merely a 

 small race of rustica, both races blending perfectly in the 

 Continent of India. 



82 ter. —Hirundo tytleri, Jerd. (15). B. of Ind., III., 

 App. 870. 



(Karenne$, Rams.) Tavoy. 



An occasional visitant to, or migrant through, the province. 



6 



