HIRUNDO ARCTICINCTA, 



MOUNT-ELGON SWALLOW. 



Ilirundo arcticincta, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 119, 1892, p. 305. 



H. similis H. angolensi, sed pectore medio abdomineque pure albis, et subcaudalibus brunncis late albo- 

 marginatis distinguenda. 



Hab. ill monte "Elgou" dicto Africse orientalis centralis. 



Adult male. Glossy blue above, wifli a chestnut forehead and rufous throat ; sides of face and a narro^v 

 line encirclius the throat blue like the back ; rest of under surface brown, with the centre of the 

 breast and abdomen white ; under tail-coverts brown, tipped with white ; tail-feathers with a large 

 white mark on all but the centre ones: ^' feet brown; ii'is brown" [F. J. Jackson). Total length 

 5'8 inches, cuhneu O'l, wing 4-75, tail 2'7, tarsus 0'4. 



Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length S^S inches, cubnen O'f, wing f'S, tail 2'4, 

 tarsus 0"-t. 



Hab. ^louut Elgon, East Central Africa. 



It is very interestiag to iind in the present species a close ally of a Swallow which has 

 hitherto only been known from Angola. It, indeed, very closely resembles //. angolensis, 

 but has a whiter abdomen and also white-tipped under tail-coverts. Mr. Jackson tells 

 us that he found the present species breeding in a large cave on tlic soutli side of Mount 

 Elgon at an elevation of 6000 feet. He did not notice it elsewhere, but tliinks that it is 

 not likely to be met with above that elevation. 



The description is taken from the type specimen in Mr. Jackson's collection, and 

 tliis individual lias been figured in the Plate. 



