as to the propriety of specifically separating these two races, which so perfectly blend into each 

 other throughout the major portion of this empire." It will be seen by the list of specimens 

 recorded above how truly apposite were the remarks of the great Indian ornithologist, and an 

 examination of the series of specimens preserved in the Hume collection amplv confirms his 

 observations. At the same time, if H. rustica and H. (/utturaUs are to be united, so must all 

 the other Swallows of the group also be, for many examples of H. ruslica approach H. cahirlca 

 in Europe and H. tytleri in India, and between these races and H. erythrogastra there is a 

 further link, so that all the Barn-Swallows are really connected together. AVe believe that these 

 results are due to interbreeding, just as is the case with Dippers [Cine/ us) and Wagtails 

 [Motacilla) . 



Hub. Europe generally, wintering in Africa. Western Asia, as far as the Valley of the Yenesei, and 

 probably further to the eastward, certainly in Central Asia and the Himalayas. Wintering in the 

 Indian Peninsula and in various parts of the Indo-Burmese sub-region, Java, the Philippines, 

 Borneo, and Celebes, even occurring in the ^Moluccas. Occasionally met with in China, probably 

 on migration only. 



The Common Swallow is abundantly dispersed over Europe in summer, at whieli season 

 it visits the greater part of the Palsearctic Hegiou. It breeds throughout the British 

 Isles, but is rarer in the north, and, according to Mr. Howard Saunders, it decreases in the 

 north-west. It doubtless breeds in most of the Hebrides. Mr. E-obert Gray writes, 

 in his book on the ' Birds of the West of Scotland ' : — " Is a well-known summer visitant 

 over the whole of Western Scotland, extending to both groups of Islands. It does not 

 appear to remain to breed in the Outer Hebrides, but specimens are seen there every 



year. I have observed it in N. Uist, Benbecula, and S. Uist In the Inner 



Hebrides its stay extends over the summer; it is common in Mull and lona, in Skye, 

 Rum, Tyree, Coll, and probably all the smaller isles." 



Mr. Dixon, in his j^aper on the Birds of St. Kilda, writes : — " Mr. Mackenzie 

 informs me that he saw numbers of Swallows on St. Kilda in 1883, but never observed 

 them there before. I never saw the Swallow during my stay. It never breeds on 

 St. Kilda." 



With regard to the Orkney Islands, Messrs. Buckley and Harvie-Brown state that 

 it is plentiful, and has very much increased in numbers of late years, owing, in 

 Ardnamurchan at least, according to Dalgleish, to the erection of a number of farm- 

 houses. 



Dr. Saxby says: — "In Shetland this welcome bird comes in aulumii ami spring, 

 though in very small numbers. In June, 18G7, I knew of a nest and eggs in a \t\vc- 

 roof at Petista, in Unst, and have heard of a few other well-authenticated instances of 

 its breeding in Shetland; but such instances are very rare. Notwithstanding the 

 bright sunshine of autumn, the Swallows seem but ill at ease when they pay a visit at 

 that season, sitting among the shrubs or upon the house-roof; and when tliey do venture 

 upon a short flight, they perform it in a listless manner, and very soon return (o their 



