Vol. xliii.] 142 



Mr. David Bannerman exhibited and described new 

 species and subspecies obtained by Mr. Bates on his recent 

 expedition : — 



Hirundo rufula kumboensis, subsp. nov. 



Most nearly allied to H. rufula emini from East Africa, 

 but distinguished from that form by its paler under- 

 snrface and rump. There is also more trace of the faint 

 shaft-streaks on the breast and belly than is apparent in 

 specimens of II. r. emini, where tne shaft-streaks are almost 

 absent. 



In size the Nigerian bird is smaller, the wings of four 

 specimens measuring 113-119 mm. H. r. emini has a wing- 

 measurement of 124-132 mm., including Shelley^s type of 

 //. astygma and also one of Emin's birds. 



Type. No. 6388. Kumbo, 5500 ft. N. Nigeria. G. 

 L. Bates coll. 



Note. — Hitherto ornithologists have usually considered 

 the Swallows domicella, melanocrissa, emini, and rufula as 

 distinct species, but I am convinced, with Mr. Bates, that 

 they must be united, and I make them, for the first time I 

 believe, subspecies of H. rufula Temm. All have exactly 

 the same colour-pattern, and only differ in the intensity of 

 the shaft-streaks on the breast — least pronounced in H. r. 

 emini, where the streaks are only just indicated. The 

 question whether we must include the heavily streaked 

 Swallows from the East (daurica, striolata, and nipalensis) 

 in this same group is now engaging the attention of 

 Mr. Stuart Baker. At present these Indian races are con- 

 sidered to be subspecies of H. daurica. Mr. Baker is 

 inclined to think that we shall eventually have to unite all 

 these Swallows under one specific name (as has already been 

 done by Dr. Hartert in his Vog. Pal. Fauna), and that name 

 will be daurica. The connecting-link between the African 

 Swallows with faint shaft-streaks and the Indian Swallows 

 with stieaked breasts is H. erythropygia, and it may be that 

 both groups will best be united. In the meantime, we prefer 

 to keep the.m iJn})ar;iie. 



