RUFOUS SWAIJ.OW. 
ITT 
‘^Systematische Ubersicht der Yogels Nord-Ost Africa;” 
and Bonaparte at once claims this bird as H. rufula. 
After which we cannot wonder that Blyth, Sykes, 
Hodgson, and Gray should more or less have confounded 
its synonymes. 
M. De Selys-Longchamps has removed all this 
confusion by an admirable memoir upon the Swallows, 
in the work which I have referred to in the specific 
characters. I am indebted to this memoir for most of 
what I have to say about H. rufula. 
The Bufous Swallow has been observed in Greece, 
on the Italian shores of the Mediterranean, and in the 
South of France. It is not observed in the two latter 
countries commonly, but accidentally on its passage in 
April or May, in couples or flocks more or less large. 
It has been frequently observed in Sicily. At Messina, 
according to Luigi Benoit and Cantraine, it was common 
in 1832. The Marquis Durazzo has recorded its 
appearance at Genoa; M. Crespon, at Nimes; M. 
Jaubert, at Marseilles. According to Lunel it nested 
in the neighbourhood of Avignon, in 1845 and 1846. 
Fie describes the eggs as white, with small reddish 
spots and points, which formed a zone at the greater 
end, which indicates that he did not get the egg of 
H. Daurica. M. Jaubert has also observed it at Mont- 
pellier, and M. Malherbe in the Cote-d’or and the 
Drome. 
Mr. Tristram remarks, (Ibis, vol. i., p. 26,) “FF. rufula 
appears to be the Common Swallow of the Holy Land. 
I cannot be sure that I saw H. rustica at all, though 
possibly it might not yet (April) have returned from 
the south.” 
De Selys (Op. cit.) remarks about its real country 
as follows : — “The question was formerly asked from 
2 B 
VOL. III. 
