474 
2 
greatly against such being the case. Mr. C. A. Wright says (Ibis, 1864, p. 57) that ‘“‘ specimens 
of the variety Hirundo rustica orientalis have also been taken on Malta and Gozo;” but doubt- 
less he only refers to specimens of Hirundo rustica having the underparts tinged with rusty 
red. Mr. Howard Saunders writes (Ibis, 1869, p. 396) that specimens of the present species 
are in the Museum at Catania; but he must have been labouring under a mistake, as Count 
Salvadori writes (Ucc. d’ Italia, p. 52) that he has carefully inquired into the matter, and is 
assured both by Sig. Aradas, Professor of Zoology and Director of the Museum of Catania, 
and Professor Doderlein that no specimen of Hirundo savignii exists in the Museum at Catania. 
M. Olph-Galliard states that it occurs on St. Gothard; and Professor Blasius writes that an 
old male from that locality had the underparts as red as any African specimen; but there 
appears also to be some doubt about these St.-Gothard examples, as M. Olph-Galliard writes 
(J. f. O. 1863, p. 589) as follows: —“‘ Je dois 4 ce propos, rectifier une erreur que j’ai probable- 
ment commise en la signalant dans la ‘ Naumannia’ comme visitant régulicrement les hauteurs du 
St. Gotthard et les environs d’Andermatt. Je crains bien de métre laissé guider en cela par des 
renseignements un peu superficiels, et je suis trés porté a croire que les exemplaires que lon m’a 
montrés comme provenant de cette localité, avaient été capturés dans le Canton du Tessin ou en 
Italie.” Nor can I credit the statement made by Professor Blasius to the effect that it breeds 
regularly in Western Europe and pairs with Hirwndo rustica; for in Palestine, where both 
species are found, Canon Tristram expressly states that they are never found interbreeding. On 
the whole I cannot but consider very doubtful all the recorded instances of the occurrence of 
Hirundo savignit north of the Mediterranean, and that bright specimens of the common Swallow, 
having the underparts washed with rusty red, have been mistaken for this species. A fact which 
goes far towards proving the specific distinctness of Hirundo savignii from Hirundo rustica, and 
one confirmed by all ornithologists who have observed it in North-east Africa and Palestine, is 
that it is a resident, whereas Hirwndo rustica is a migrant, passing further south to winter, and, 
as a rule, nesting in more northern localities than those inhabited by Hirundo savignii. As 
above stated, itis more than doubtful if it has ever occurred in Italy or Sicily; and the same 
appears to be the case as regards Greece, where neither Von der Miihle nor Lindermayer met 
with it; and I understand from Mr. Seebohm that the birds recorded from Greece as being 
H. savignii are not that species, but merely varieties of H. rustica with the underparts more 
rufous than usual. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley write (Ibis, 1870, p. 200) that the present 
species is “said by Mr. Robson to be not uncommon about Constantinople ;’ but amongst the 
numbers of Swallows I have seen from Turkey I have never yet found one, and do not think 
that much reliance can be placed on this assertion. Nor does it appear, so far as I can ascertain, 
to have ever been met with in Southern Russia or Asia Minor; but Canon Tristram, who met 
with it in Palestine, writes (Ibis, 1867, p. 861) as follows:—‘'The Oriental Chimney-Swallow 
remains the whole year, and is found both on the coast, in the maritime plains, and throughout 
the length of the Jordan valley. No one can observe this bird in the Holy Land without being 
satisfied of its distinctness from H. rustica. It is true we can give no other diagnosis than the 
difference of coloration on the lower parts, these being chestnut instead of white or brownish 
white; but of the hundreds of Swallows of both sexes to be seen throughout the winter, not one 
of the common sort could be detected. ‘There is neither fading nor intensifying of the chestnut 
