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Tristram in Palestine, and tbese are not the true H. caliirica or K. savtrjnii of Egypt, 

 but a richly coloured form of S. rustica. T\'hether the dark colour of the Palestine bird 

 is due to interbreeding Avith H. savignii it is difficult to prove; and as Canon Tristram 

 speaks of the bird as resident in the country the T\-hole year, it may well be that 

 H. caliirica was the original inhabitant of the country, and has become modified into an 

 intermediate race by interbreeding with individuals of U. rustica, which settle in the 

 country on its return from its winter-quarters. We give Canon Tristram's note in its 

 entirety, merely recording our opinion that the bird referred to is not the " Oriental 

 Chimney-SAvallow," but only a dark form of R. rustica, which we are prepared to 

 match any day by English specimens. Canon Tristram writes as follows : — " Tlie 

 Chimney-Swallow remains the whole year, and is found both on the coast (in the 

 maritime plains) and throughout the length of the Jordan Valley. No one can observe 

 this bird in the Holy Land without being satisfied of its distinctness from S. rustica. 

 It is true we can give no other diagnosis than the difference of coloration on the lower 

 parts, these being chestnut instead of white or brownish white ; but of the hundreds of 

 Swallows of both sexes to be seen throughout the winter, not one of the common sort 

 could be detected. There is neither fading nor intensifying of the chestnut lower 

 plumage at any time of the year. Specimens shot at all seasons are precisely similar. 

 In spring their numbers rapidly increase, and from the middle of March they become 

 distributed over the whole country, the higher as well as the lower grounds, while 

 along with them a^^pear many of our common species. In the higher grounds these, 

 perhaps, predominate ; in the lower certainly the S. caliirica is most numerous. I 

 never could detect the two sorts interbreeding, though the nest and eggs are precisely 

 similar. Having no chimneys provided for them, rafters of outhouses, where such can be 

 found, but especially ledges in caves, are the favourite nesting-places ; and I took live 

 nests of the JI. caliirica attached to little projecting stones rmder the vaulted roof of a 

 well in constant use, about two feet from the ground, and built in a row. Convenient 

 situations must have been scarce there (it was near Kedesh) ; for we had to stoop under 

 the roof to draw water, and almost touched the nests with our heads as we withdrew." 



In Southern Paissia, according to von Nordmann, the SwalloAV appears as early as 

 the 8th of April, and he considers that the time of arrival in Southern Ilussia is at least 

 from 16 to 20 days in advance of their advent at St. Peterslmrg. He believes that on 

 migration they do not follow the coasts, but fly across the Elack Sea. Near Odessa he 

 has seen stragglers as late as the end of October. 



Dr. Iladde states that it is a c('mmon summer resident in the Caucasus as hiuh as 

 'iOOO feet, but is not so plentiful as in otlicr parts of Europe. In Astrakhan i( Mas found 

 by ]\Ir. llenke to be a very common siunnicr visitor, especially in the slcp[H's. 



Mr. Blanford says that the Swallow was " common throughout Persia in the summer, 

 and breeds at heights fronr about fOOO feet to about SUOO. At Kala-;in and Jalk the 

 birds appeared to be arriving in ^March, and on dissection it was evident that they were 

 commencing to breed." 



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