HIRUNDO NAMIYEI (».>.)■ 



LIU-KIU SWALLOW. 



Cheliclon namhjei, Stejn. Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus. ix. p. 646 (1886). 

 Sirundo javanica namiyei, Seebohm, Birds Japan. Emp. p. 142 (1890). 



H. similis H.javanicce, seel major. 

 Huh. in insulis 'Liu Kiu' dictis. 



"Adult male. Above, except forehead and anterior portion o£ crown, black, with a strong gloss of steel- 

 blue somewhat inclining to greenish; forehead and anterior half of the crown deep chestnut, the 

 feathers of the latter being bluish black in the centre; lores deep velvety black ; cheeks and lower 

 ear-coverts, chin, throat, and fore neck bright tawny hazel, inclining slightly to cinnamon, and 

 becoming somewhat lighter towards the breast ; upper lialf of the ear-coverts and sides of neck 

 bluish black, like the back, this colour descending on the side of the breast, forming a distinct 

 semilunc on each side, which partly separates the hazel of the neck from the rest of the under 

 surface, which is of a nearly pure drab, each feather near the middle line of the body broadlv, 

 though not very distinctly, margined with white ; under wing-coverts and axillaries of a drab 

 colour, similar to that of the breast, but darker ; wings and tail above black, with a faint o-loss of 

 steel-green ; the tail-feathers, except the middle pair, with an oblique oval white spot in the inner 

 web towards the tips, those on the outer pair being the smallest. Total length, according to 

 Namiye, 145 mm.; stretch of wings 3.25 mm.; wing 118 mm. ; longest tail-feathers 58 mm.; 

 furcation of tail 14 mm.; exposed culmen 8-5 mm.; tarsus 10 mm.; middle toe and claw 

 15 mm." 



Hah. Liu Kiu or Loo Choo Islands. 



We have not seen this species, which has been described by Dr. Stejneger from a sin"-lc 

 specimen obtained by Mr. Namiye in tlie Liu Kiu Archipelago at Ih-assoimafiri on tin- 

 island of Okinawa Shima. As Mr. Seebohm has already pointed out, it appears to he 

 merely a somewhat larger race o'i II. javanica, wifii a wing of lO inches instead of {[, 

 which is supposed to be the limit in H. javanica. 



Di". Stejneger gives the following note: — " Our n(>w species is nmcli nearer r(']at((l 

 to H.jaKaiiica than to iZ. ncoxcna, but ditl'ers from it not only in si/.(\ hein"-, as it is, 

 consideraI)ly larger, but also in coloration. The gloss of tiie upper surface is niore 

 greenisli; the brown of tlie throat is more chestnut; tlic gi-ey ol' the nnderparts deeper 

 and less tinged with rusty; the under tail-coverts darker and tij)ped with a pure whiU; 



