AND NORTnKRN GUZERAT. 451 



[Occurs, so far ns I know, nowhere else, within the whole region, 

 though there are jungles in Kattiawar where I should not be sur- 

 prised at its turning up. At Aboo it is like E. bakhamuna, an 

 outlier.— A. 0. H.] 



82.— Hirundo rustica, Lin. 



The Common Swallow is common in the plains during the 

 cold weather, arriving about the 1st August and leaving towards 

 the end of February. 



[The species referred to is common during the cold season 

 throughout the whole region, but Dr. King never obtained it at 

 Aboo, nor does it apparently ascend the Hill there. Many of 

 these birds belong to the somewhat smaller Eastern race, separ- 

 ated as II. gutturalis, Scop. Whether this latter is a valid species, 

 and if so whether any of the Sindh birds are true rustica, 1 

 have not as yet- a sufficient European series to enable me to 

 assert. A fine male, recently sent me from Deesa by Captain 

 Butler, measured L. 8 ; W. 5 : Tl. 475 ; Bill from gape, 0-55 ; 

 at front 028. This, at any rate, I presume is to be considered a 

 true rustica. — A. 0. H.] 



84 —Hirundo filifera, Stephens. 



The Wire-tailed Swallow, one of the most beautiful species of 

 the genus, seems partial to particular localities. In some places, 

 though not very plentiful anywhere, it may be seen in pretty 

 considerable numbers ; in others it does not occur at all. I never 

 saw one at Aboo. 



[Common throughout the whole region but I also never saw 

 it at Aboo ; and Dr. King, who collected there for two years, 

 neither preserved a specimen nor recorded it in his MSS list. 

 This is the more remarkable, because it ascends the Himalayas 

 to an elevation of at least 5,000 feet. — A. O. H.] 



85.— Hirundo erythropygia, Sykes. 



Very abundant at Aboo, where it breeds during the rains in 

 Juue and July, fixing its curious retort-shaped nest usually to 

 the roof of a cave, and la\ ing two or three pure white eggs. 

 I am doubtful whether it occurs in the plains during the hot 

 weather, but I am inclined to think it does not. My opinion is 

 that most of them pass the hot weather on the hills where they 

 abound at that season, and breed in the rains returning to the 

 plains again about the end of September, soon after which they 

 disappear entirely on the hills, and become very common all 

 over the plains. 



I have not yet identified H. daurica, Lin. 



[Common during the rains in Jodhpoor, rare in the hot 

 season, perhaps not a permanent resident, but it certainly is so 



