Mr. E. L. Layard lias given the following note on tlie species in the Cape 

 Colony : — 



" If any of our Cape Swallows could be mistaken for the European species, this 

 would in all probability be the deceiver. In fact, for a long time we were deceiv(Nl hv 

 it, until one bright sunny morning, while Avatching the flight of some of these lowly 

 aerial creatures, it struck us that the l)lue of the back and white of the breast looked 

 brighter tliau in the old-country bird. Eor some time they confined their course to the 

 narroAV river, on the bridge of which we stood, but at last one strayed for an instant 

 over the bank; a well-directed shot laid him on the green sward, and we instantly 

 recognized the supposed ' Hirondelle a front roux ' of Le Vaillaut. They were l)ree(ling 

 beneath the bridge, but Ave were unable at the time to get at the nests, which wc have 

 since visited, and found to resemble those of the European bird in shape and structure. 

 Le Vaillant says he only found this species in the rainy season (our Avinter). In tliis 

 he is most undoubtedly mistaken, so far as the Cape Peninsula is concerned. Xo other 

 Swallow than C.fuligula remains during this time, whatever they may do in the more 

 inland districts ; but from all we can gather from our correspondents, we have no reason 

 to think that even there S. albigularis is to be found in the winter. 



" My son found the species breeding at Grootevadersbosch, near Swellendam, and 

 together we procured its nest at the Berg river in the middle o£ September. The nesi 

 was a half-cup attached to a beam in a stahle, and was composed of mud and lined witii 

 hay and feathers. The eggs are very thin, white (pink wlien containing tlic yolkj. and 

 spotted, chiefly at the obtuse end, in the shape of a ring, with minute dots of i;r(>en, In'own, 

 and yellow, with here and there a larger spot. In shape they are sometimes uuich 

 pointed, at other times they are very round; axis 11", diani. 7"." 



Both Yictorin and Andersson procured this Swallow in tlie Kiiysna, the lornicr 

 from August to October, the latter in January. In Natal, writes Mr. Ayres to Mr. .1. 11. 

 Gurney, "these pretty Swallows are not nearly so common as the SuniKiei'-Su.-iUow 

 (//. ruslica); they appear to arrive at the same time as the hiltei- birds, jiiid in 

 leave with them, and the two species are frequently to be seen huntiiig in i-ompany ; 

 their flight is, however, I think, more rapid. The tawny appearance of the Ih-i-kIs ^A 

 the specimens sent is, I believe, merely caused by their liaving constantly perched on a 

 horizontal iron bar which sujjported the chimney of a liouse, and was pa^scil ihrougli 

 the roof." 



In the "Notes" from Natal, ])ul)lished by Colonels P.uiler and i'eilden ami 

 Captain Savile Eeid, we find an account of tln^ present species : — 



"Appeared at Newcastle early in September in numbers, and noled all the wny fo 

 the coast. Numerous at lliehmond lload in Decemh(>r. The nesl is open.ol' a haH'-ciip 

 shape, built of mud, warmly lined with grass and a large (]uantily of leathei->. ,iud is 

 placed on the undiu' surface of rocks, usnall) oNcr \\;it(M". l']g^s four, niea-uriuL;- (' 7"' in. 

 by ()•').') in., white, with small hlohdies and spots of i-eddish hi'ow n, mosl nunc mus 

 towards the obtuse end. Nests were taken li\ i'lutler and Ilcid in ()elol,er and 



