HIRUNDO DIMIDIATA, Sumiev. 



PEARLY-BREASTED SWALLOW. 



Sirundo dimidiata, Sundev. CEfv. K. Vet.-Akacl. Forh. 1S50, p. 107 ; Hartl. Ibis, 

 1862, p. lU ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 56 (1867) ; id. Ibis, 18G9, p. 72 ; Gray, 

 Hand-1. B. i. p. 71, no. 832 (1869) ; Sliarpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 310 ; id. Cat. Afr. 

 B. p. 46, no. 434 (1871) ; Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 52 (1872) ; Ayres, 

 Ibis, 1878, p. 285, 1879, p. 291; Shelley, Ibis, 1882, p. 259; Sharpe, ed. Layard's 

 B. S. Afr. p. 366 (1882) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1881, p. 227; Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit.'Mus. 

 X. p. 148 (1885) ; Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. vii. p. 236. 



Hirimdo scajmlaris, Cass. Proc. Philad. Acad. pi. 12 (1850) ; id. Cat. Hiruud. Mus. 

 Philad. Acad. p. 2 (1853). 



Semicecrops dimidiata, Bp. Ptivist. Contemp., Torino, 1857, p. 4. 



lIemicecroi:ts scapularis, Bp. t. c. p. 4. 



Sirundo leucosoma (nee S\v.), Grill, Zool. Anteckn. p. 36 (1858). 



H. suprk cbalybeo-nigra, pileo dorsoque coucoloribus : abdominc albo : sccuudariis baud extus all)is. 



Hah. in Africa raeridionaU. 



Adult. Aljove purplisb bhic ; quills bi'on'uisb black, groy on the inner \veb, the innermost of the greater 

 wing-coverts white, forming a white spot, which, however, is generally concealed by the scapu- 

 laries ; occasionally in very old birds a small white spot also appears on the innermost seeondarics ; 

 tail brownish black, without any spots, glossed ou the upper surface with dai'k blue, with a faint 

 greenish lustre; entire under surface silky white, having in some speeiniens a certain woolly 

 appearance, greyish in certain lights; on each side of the upper part of the Ijreast a patch of 

 dark blue feathers : " bill and feet black ; iris dark brown " (.hidcrs.su/i) . Total length j'Ti inches, 

 v.'ing 4.-2, tail .2T), tarsus 0' 1. 



Yoiaiff. Not nearly so bright above, and more distinctly tinged with greenish ; the white spot on the 

 greater wing-coverts either absent altogether, or, when present, of a dull greyish colour and very 

 little developed. 



Ha/i. South Africa to IMashoona Land on the cast and Bcngucla on the west. 



The Pcarlv-breasted Swallow is very closelv allii'il In IIirniKJo /c/'co.s-ni/Hi of WcsIimh 

 Africa, but only shows a small white s])i)t on tin- inner sccuiularics ins!<'ad of Ibc c.xli'ndcil 

 white patch on the winiy of the hitter spc^cies. 



Mr. E. L. Layard has given the I'oUowini^ aceonnj cd' the specii's : — ••This Sw.-illmv 

 is very rare in the neighbourhood of Cape Town, but Iiccihuc^ inorc cumuKm on tiic 

 mainland. It will bo as well to trout the pcniusula buuiuliHl by False and Table Bays 



