This is the eastern representative of our Common Martin, from which species it differs 

 in its less forked tail, and in the colour of the upper tail-coverts, which are pure white 

 like the rump, whereas in C. urhica they are hlack. 



It ranges from the valley of the Yen-e-say River across Siheria, and even occurs in 

 Kamtschatka, according to Pallas ; but on this point Dr. Stejneger writes : — " Nothing 

 definite is known, and the statement is veiy doubtful, though it may be remembered 

 that it is said to occur at Gischiginsk." Pallas states that it nests in houses and is 

 strictly protected by the natives , who do not like to see the birds shot. It builds under 

 rafters and roofs of houses, and he says that in the sandy banks of the Irtisch River it 

 makes holes in the river-banks. This last statement may be received with some doubt. 

 In Dauuria the same author states that it also breeds, arriving there in April, and that 

 the nests are similar to those of Q. urhica. Dr. Dybowski met with the species on the 

 Argun River in Dauuria, and Dr. Taczanowski says that the species is common over the 

 whole of Eastern Siberia and extends to the southern border of the Ussuri country. 



Radde collected a specimen on the 9th of May at Tarei-uor. He says that the 

 species comes during the last days of April. He saw it on the 26tli of that month in 

 Kiachta, and to the eastward of the Apple Mountains it was also observed about the 

 same time near Tschita. Daring von Middendorff's travels in Siberia, he saw a flock on 

 the 10th of May on the western slope of the Stauovoi Mountains, and again he noticed 

 it on the Yen-e-say River at about 70° N. lat. He also states that it comes yearly to 

 Turuchans'k. 



Von Schrenk mentions that a specimen was procured by him at Nertschinsk on the 

 7th of May. He never met with it in Lower Amoor-Land, and he draws attention to the 

 fact that Middendorff only found it on the western slope of the Stanovoi Mountains, and 

 not in the Udskoi Ostrog district, which is continuous with Lower A moor Land. Prom 

 this he gathers that the Martins only remain in these districts during migration, and 

 that they pass on to live in the inaccessible mountains, and so they escape the observa- 

 tion of the traveller. 



Dr. Dybowski says that in Eastern Siberia this Martin is common at the beginning 

 of May, building under the eaves of houses. A few pairs were found at the foot of naked 

 spurs of the Chamardaban Mountains. They w^ere also nesting on the rocks near a 

 waterfall on the river Bystra, about 4000 feet above the level of Lake Baikal. He also 

 saw it near the Changinsk post, about 4300 feet above the sea-level. Sis or eight eggs 

 are laid in the middle of June. They leave the vicinity of Kultuk towards the end of 

 August or the beginning of September. 



The following note on the species is given by Mr. Henry Seebohm in his account of 

 his travels in Siberia : — " This bird was the only Chelklon which I obtained on the 

 Yen-e-say. Several pairs arrived on the Arctic circle about the 11th of June, and were 

 soon busy hawking for flies and examining their old nests. In the village of Koo-ray-i- 

 ka, opposite the mouth of the river of that name, they s\\ armed in thousands. The nest 



