PSALIDOPROCNE ORIENTALIS, Bdchmow. 



EASTERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 



? Atticora holomelama, Eischer, J. f. 0. 1889, p. 277. 

 Psalidoprocne petiti orientalis, Reichen. J. f . O. 1889, p. 277. 

 Psalidoprocne petiti (nee Sh. & B.), Shelley, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 359. 

 Psalidoprocne orientalis, Sharpe, Ibis, 1892, p. 306; Reichen. Jahrb. Hanab. Wiss. 

 Anst. x. p. 16 (1893). 



P. similis P. petiti et subalaribus fuinosis, seel nitore viridescente nee chocolatino distingueuda. 



Hab. in Africa orientali. 



Adult male. General colour above and below dull black with a steel-green gloss ; median and greater 

 wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers black, externally glossed with steel-green ; under wing- 

 coverts smoky brown : " bill black ; feet brown ; iris brown " (F. J. Jackson) . Total length 

 6 - 5 inches, culmen 0"25, wing 4 - 5, tail 1"9, longest feathers 3'8, tarsus - 35. 



Adult female. Similar to the male, but without any serrations on the outer web of the first primary. 

 Total length 6 inches, wing 41, tail T55, longest feathers 4"1. 



Dr. Reichenow originally described the present species from Lewa, in the Usambara 

 Hills, where it was discovered by Dr. Stnhlrnann on the 25th of September. A young 

 bird was subsequently procured by Mr. Hunter, in Taveta, and was identified by 

 Captain Shelley as Psalidoprocne petiti, to which species the browner shade of tbe 

 immature plumage of P. orientalis bears some resemblance. Specimens were procured 

 by Mr. E. J. Jackson in the Sotik Country at the end of August 1889, and again on 

 Mount Elgon, at a height of from 7000 to 8000 feet, in Eebruary 1890. Mr. Jackson 

 has the following note : — " Found a colony of these birds breeding inside a large cave. 

 The nest was made entirely of Orchella-^veed, placed inside small recesses in the sides of 

 the cave. The eggs were two, pure white." 



In our paper on Mr. Jackson's East-African collection, we stated our opinion that 

 the present species was quite distinct from P. petiti, and was fully entitled to specific 

 rank. In this opinion we are glad to see that Dr. Reichenow now concurs. 



The late Colonel Grant in his journal had the following note, which he communi- 

 cated to us in 1870 : — " Usui, Central Africa, October 16, 1861. Black Swallow with 



4m 2 



