Cecropis filiccmdata, Kiipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 22 (1845) ; Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 14 



(1856) ; Antin. Cat. Ucc. p. 26 (1865). 

 Hirundo filicauda, Mull. J. f. O. 1855, p. 5. 

 Cecroins fiUcauda, Brebm, J. f. O. 1855, p. 452. 

 TJromltrus filifera, Bp. Rivist. Contemp., Torino, 1857, p. 4 ; Brebm, Eeis. Ilabescb, 



p. 209 (1863) ; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 75 (1874) ; Ball, Str. P. 1874, 



p. 383, 1875, p. 289. 

 Hirundo velocissima, Pr. Wllrt. MSS., teste Heuglin. 

 Hirundo fuscicapilla, Heugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 154 (1869). 

 Hirundo anclnetcn, Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1867, p. 150. 

 Vromitrus filiferus, Oates, B. Brit. Burm. i. p. 307 (1883). 



H. dorso postico et uropygio dorso concoloribus, chalybeo-CEeruleis ; pileo rufo. 

 Hub. in regione iEthiopic^ et in regione Indica. 



Adult male. General colour above glossy purplish blue, the feathers of the mantle and bind neck varied 

 •nith white bases to the feathers ; wing-coverts like the back, witii a white spot on the inner web 

 of the innermost greater coverts ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills black, edged with 

 purplish blue ; tail-feathers black, edged with purplish blue, all but the two centre feathers with 

 a large white spot near the end of the inner web ; crown of head deep bay ; lores and feathers 

 round the eye black ; ear-coverts purplish blue ; cheeks and under surface of body white, with a 

 slight fulvous tinge on the chin ; the sides of the upper breast purplish blue, forming a lateral 

 patch ; under wing-coverts and axillaries like the breast ; quills blackish below : " legs, feet, and 

 bill black; iris blackish brown " {E. A. Butler). Total length 67 inches, culmen O'S, wing 4-5, 

 tail I'-i, outer tail-feather 3'75, tarsus 0'4. 



Adult female. Similar to the male in colour, but with a much shorter outer tail-feather. Total length 

 5 inches, culmen 3'0, wing 4'2, tail 1'25, outer tail-feather 1'9, tarsus 0"-4. 



The descriptions are taken from a pair of birds from the Congo, as from this locality came the original 

 specimen. Indian examples arc rather larger, and exceed the African ones in the length of the 

 outer wire-like tail-feather. The males from various parts of India, in the Hume collection, 

 have the wing from 4-4 to 4-9 inches in length, and the outer tail-feather from o'O to 7'0 inches. 

 On the other hand, however, the same collection contains male examples with the tail-feather 

 onlv 4'5 inches long, so that the difference between these and African examples is not very great. 

 Sometimes the head is very pale tawny, while in other specimens it is deep chestnut. The palcr 

 birds are generally in worn breeding-plumage, but not always, and it is probable that the colour 

 of the crown deepens and the tail lengthens with age. 



Young. Much more dingy blue than in the adults and not nearly so glossy ; the head brown ; the throat 

 and fore neck rufous buff; the tail nearly square, without any marked prolongation of the outer 

 feather, the white spot on the inner web of the feathers varying in size, but not so large as in 

 the adults. 



Young birds after their first moult have much shorter tails than the adult, are rather greener in 

 colour, and have the throat and chest washed with rufous. The head is dark chestnut, and 

 bears out the remarks made above on this subject. 



