86 ORIENTAL CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 



all we know about it, but contains some useful remarks upon the difficult 

 question of "species." — 



"At a meeting in Cothea we learned tbrougb Olpb-Galliard, that H. 

 cahirica, lacht., was taken by Nager-Donaziens, at St. Gothard, and the 

 specimen was exhibited. Later Laudamman Nager wrote to me that 

 this is there the only Chimney Swallow^, and that during the spring 

 passage it is sometimes caught by boys with the hand. I also received 

 specimens which did not differ in intensity of colour from African 

 specimens. We may reasonably express surprise at an Egyptian species 

 coming to St. Gothard, particularly so regularly according to Andermatt. 

 In the following spring Baldamus found this bird breeding and pairing 

 with H. rustica in Diebzig, and I have one of these specimens now in 

 my possession. In the present spring (1859) I have also seen these 

 Swallows breeding in Brunswick, and paired with the common H. 

 rustica. Many specimens were brighter than the Egyptian H. cahirica ; 

 otherwise they resembled them. From other sources I have received 

 intelligence that among Chimney Swallows individuals with red brown 

 under sides have been found breeding. 



Under these circumstances we can still affirm that this bird has been 

 taken at St. Gothard ; but it is not so clear that it is the only kind of 

 Chimney Swallow which is found there. Dr. Gloger says that the 

 very dark red House Swallow is very common in Sardinia, and also in 

 Eastern Siberia, where, according to Pallas, the Chimney Swallow has a 

 remarkably rust-coloured under side. As the different coloured birds 

 pair together, and as in the same nest there are to be found from normal 

 coloured parents — both colours — it is evident that the varieties blend 

 one with another, and as there is very little difference in the forms and 

 habits, so it is not well to maintain that there is a difference of species. 

 But how is this question to be viewed ? For example, as to climatic 

 varieties ? Our northern climate has under some circumstances produced 

 the African form! No one can satisfactorily maintain that our northern 

 dark rust-coloured Chimney Swallow was originally bred from the 

 African ! Nor can any one connect the one in the climate of Egypt with 

 that in Eastern Siberia ; far less can we deduce from the casual fact of 

 the varieties pairing together, that the rust-colour of the Egyptian or 

 Siberian Chimney Swallow is due to physical causes. The name climatic 

 variety is only an arbitrary distinction." 



"Or races? But races can only be comprehended with certainty 

 within the same limits as climatic varieties. The young will without any 

 intermediate form go back to that of the parents. Nature does not carry 

 out this idea precisely." 



"Perhaps sub-species? The comprehension of sub-species is so little 



