able variety, which is knowu in this country under the name of the Hirondelle des i/alein, 

 and which rests, in fact, on the shiugie of the sea-side banks, constitutes perhaps a distinct 

 species : it is a little larger, with the bill stronger, the tarsus and the toes are more 

 slender, and the claws less stout and longer; the upper part of the body and tail and 

 the larger quills have less buff in the brown, and the uuderparts of the body are clear 

 grey streaked with brown. This indicates a bird similar to that of Madagascar, ])ut 

 it probably does not diifer from true II. borboiiica, except by being in fiilh'r plumage. 



"This species is becoming every day rarer in the island of Reunion as well as in 

 Mauritius, and, as a matter of fact, it is confined to certain localities; we have (jljservcd 

 it in the mountains situated between La Possession and the town of St. Paul, principally 

 near the manufactory of our good friend Retout. These birds often rest on brandies 

 of trees or on rocks, but it is a mistake when the illustrious BuflFou pretends that they tly 

 round about the ships which happen to be in the roads : their flight is very swift and 

 resembles that of our Swallows. According to M. Jean E^etout, a clever hunter living 

 at Possession, this species is also found in the Savannah which extends bet« een that place 

 and St. Paul, and is known as the Point des galets ; the inhabitants of Reunion pretend 

 that of this species, which they call the Hirondelle des hies, there is found a variety to 

 which they give the distinguishing name oi Hirondelle des galets. I furnished some notes 

 as well as a figure of this species to our friend M. Coquerel, who has inserted them in 

 his memoir in the fourth volume of his album of La Reunion." 



The description and figure of this species are taken from a specimen in the Britisli 

 Museum. 



