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records it as a summer visitant to the basin of the Lower Yangtze. He says that it is 

 not very common, and he has not yet discovered its breeding-hauuts, but he has noticed 

 the birds on the Yangtze in May, June, and July. At Foocliow, according to the same 

 observer, it is seen in spring, and five specimens were shot in November. 



According to David and Oustalet it is very common in the north of China for the 

 greater part of the year, nesting in colonies. Abbe David likewise states that he met 

 with it in Mongolia. The following note is by the late Consul Swinhoe : — " This pretty 

 little Swallow was very common about the marshes at Takoo, often perching on the 

 ground, apparently to take rest and preen itself. In the plain before Tientsin thousands 

 of this species, in company wdth large parties of Hirimdo rustica and daiirica, swarmed 

 the air during the warm days of September, engaged in catching the numerous flies that 

 haunted tlie camp. We were delighted to see these active little fly-destroyers occupied 

 so busily in the work of destruction, as we were literally inflicted with a plague of flies, 

 for every tent was blackened towards the top with these small pests." In Kokonoor 

 Mm. Grum-Grzimailo met with the species plentifully. 



It must be remarked that the eastern range of the Sand-^Iartin is by no means 

 clearly understood, and that some of the remarks above quoted may ultimately be found 

 to refer to the pale eastern form which we have called Cotile diluta. 



In Africa also considerable uncertainty exists as to the winter habitat of the Sand- 

 Martin. Many references to the occurrence of the species in North-eastern Africa 

 doubtless refer to Cotile slielleijl, and probably not a few to Cotile minor. Thus Canon 

 Tristram says that he has found the Sand-Martin breeding in Egypt in February, and 

 suggests that the species may be double-brooded. Without doubt the species referred 

 to must be Cotile shelleyi. From Suez we have received an undoubted example of the 

 true C. riparia, and its winter residence in South Africa is certified by three specimens 

 sent by Mr. Ayres from Potchefstroom and now in the British Museum. Dr. Reichouow 

 also informs us that the specimens in the Berlin Museum from Eastern Africa are tlie 

 true C. riparia. 



Mr. Ayres writes : — " One morning, very early, I went down to the river with my 

 rod to fish, and sitting quietly near an extensive bed of reeds and rushes, I saw mauy 

 Imndreds of these little Martins leave their roosts among the rushes, all together, just as 

 the sun rose ; about a quarter of an hour later many hundreds of C. pjaludicola left the 

 same patch of reeds, or others close by, all together, or nearly so ; at this time the two 

 species were not mixed, but at other times of the day they are nearly always together, 

 coursing for insects." 



AYe have only seen one example from any part of AYest Africa, and this is a 

 specimen in the Tweeddale Collection, collected by M. Lnglaize near St. Louis in 

 Senegambia. Mr. Ilartert, during his expedition to the Bcniie Iliyer, saw a Sand- 

 Martin in the far interior, which was probably the present species. 



Considering, however, the myriads of this common little bird wliic-li must l)o hatched 

 in northern latitudes every year, it is marvellous tliat so few specimens arc dlilaincd in 

 its winter-quarters, while tlie routes which they follow are practically unni.irki'd. Xci 

 doubt one line of flight is along the Nile Yalley, as Dr. Reichenow records an cxani])le 



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