508 
4 
none being observed later than the 30th of that month. On the Upper Amoor it was common 
about 150 to 180 versts from the Chingan Mountains; and Dr. L. von Schrenck (Reise, Amurl. 
p- 389) says that he found it common on the Amoor, where numbers breed, but not in such 
large colonies as are seen in Europe, or as Pallas saw on the Irtysh. Both Dr. Radde and Dr. 
Schrenck say that specimens obtained by them agree precisely with European examples. It 
appears to winter in India, where, however, it is rare. Dr. Jerdon (B. of I. i. p. 163) says that 
he “got specimens at Jaulna, and saw it occasionally at Mhow and Saugor, as also in two or 
three localities on the Ganges, but very few (generally only one or two) together, in company 
with the common Swallow, and always near water.” Mr. Blyth mentions it from the banks of 
the Sutlej. Adams says that it is common on the Indus and the rivers of the Punjab. Griffith 
also procured it in Afganistan, and says that “it frequents rivers and sand-banks, and has a loud 
harsh voice, with the same intonation as the Black Partridge. It is only a winter visitant to 
India;” and he further writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 353), ‘‘ Mr. Blanford recently procured it in Central 
India; and I have on several occasions seen one or two birds of this species in the upper 
provinces of India; but it is certainly somewhat rare throughout India.” Mr. A. O. Hume 
remarks, however (Stray Feathers, i. p. 164), that he has never seen an India-killed specimen of 
this bird. It occurs in China; and Mr. Swinhoe says that it is found at Pekin in summer. He 
also says (Ibis, 1861, p. 328) that “it was very common about the marshes at Takoo, often 
perching on the ground, apparently to take rest and preen itself. In the plain before Tientsin 
thousands of this species, in company with large parties of the two foregoing, swarmed the air 
during the warm days of September, engaged in catching the numerous flies that haunted 
the camp.” 
On the American continent it is widely distributed. Professor Baird (N. Am. B. i. p. 352) 
gives its range as “the whole of North America, Bermudas, Greater Antilles, Costa Rica, and 
Western Brazil,” and further says that ‘‘it is common throughout North America in the summer, 
and probably winters in Mexico, and in Central and South America, though it is not men- 
tioned by Sumichrast as a bird of Vera Cruz. Mr. Salvin obtained several specimens at Dueifias, 
Guatemala, in September 1861, having previously observed it about the Lake of Yzabal. Mr. 
Dall met with this species in Alaska, in favourable situations, in immense numbers. He counted 
on the face of one sand-bluff over seven hundred nest-holes made by these birds, and all of them 
apparently occupied, so that the bluff presented the appearance of an immense honeycomb alive 
with bees. It has not been observed in Greenland; but Richardson found it in colonies of 
thousands at the mouth of Mackenzie River, in the 68th parallel.” Its range extends far south 
in America. I found it common in Texas, and observed the first arrivals in the spring at Eagle 
Pass on the 20th February. As above stated, it occurs in Mexico and Costa Rica. Natterer 
found it on the Rio Negro; Sclater and Salvin record it from the Amazon; and Von Pelzeln 
(Orn. Bras. p. 18) speaks of it as being found at Caicara in about 15° S. lat. I may further add 
that Gundlach obtained it in Cuba. 
The Sand-Martin, or Bank-Swallow, is, as above stated, met with only during the summer 
season in Europe proper, and there appears to be no undoubted instance on record of its 
wintering in the countries north of the Mediterranean. It.arrives in Great Britain late in 
April or early in May, and immediately proceeds to prepare its nest and commence breeding. 
