320 MR. SWINHOE ON BIRDS FROM TIENTSIN. [NoV. 2.5, 



52. TOTANUS CALIDRIS, L. 



In fine summer plumage. 



53. LiMOSA RUFA. 



In fine summer plumage. 



54. Ardetta sinensis, Gmel. 



55. Rallus indtcus, 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 

 ((7. cashmerensis, Gould), the Nepal Martin (JDelichon 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. blaJdstoni, 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. S. 



