COTILE ANDERSSONI,sp.n. 



ANDERSSON'S PtOCK-MARTIN. 



Cotlle fuligula (uec Liclit.), Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1868, p. 40, 1872, p. 07 ; Gurney 

 in Andersson's Birds of Damara Land, p. 52 (1872); Bocage, Oru. Angola, p. 187 

 (1881). 



Cotile ftiUrjula (pt.), Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. p. lOG (1SS5). 



C sirailis C. fuligula sed pallidior : supra pallide murlna, et subtus vix rufescens. 



Hab. in Africa occidentali-australi. 



Adult female. Similar to C. fuligula, but very much paler, the upper surface aud the sides of the body 

 being a pale ashy mouse-colour, aud the rufous colour on the throat very pale : " bill brown, upper 

 mandible darker than the lower ; legs and toes brown ; iris very dark brown " (C /. Andersson). 

 Total length 5'8 inches, culmen O'-i, wing 5"05, tail 2-15, tarsus 0'45. 



Hab. Damara-Land and Mossamedes. 



The receipt of a larger series of the true C . fuligula than was at our disposal some time 

 ago shows that the form from the Cape Colonj^ and Natal is uniformly darker than the 

 one from Damara Laud, and the intensely pale coloration of the latter has induced us to 

 describe it as a distinct race, to which we liave attached the name of Mr. C. J. Andersson, 

 the intrepid traveller, to whose exertions nearly all our scientific knowledge of this 

 part of the world is due. 



Mr. Andersson gives the following note on this bird : — " This Martin is common in 

 Damara aud Great Namaqua Land, and is the only species of Swallow which remains 

 throughout the year, a few couples being always to be found in suitable localities. 1 

 once saw a very large number at Uykomkap, on the 20th of May. This species breeds 

 in the holes of low rocks and clay-banks. The nest is cup-shaped, and built of the usual 

 clay materials ; the eggs are five or six in number, white, tinged with fawn, and spotted 

 with brown." 



Scnlior Anchieta has met with this Martin at the Ptio Coroca and at Biballa in the 

 interior of Mossamedes, as we liave no doubt that it is tlie pale Damara form which 

 occurs here also. At Biballa he says it is called ' Kapiapia.' 



The description and measurements are taken from the typical specimen iu the 

 British Museum. 



e2 



