180 
CHAO S^VAI-L<)^V. 
1 
Eigorre and Grenoble. M. Gerbe informs me tbat it is 
abundant in the department of the Basses-Alpcs, near 
Moustiers, and in the Var among some of the high 
mountain rocks which border the River Argent. M. 
C’respon reports it from the department of Gard; and 
it is seen in its passage in some other spots in Provence, 
Languedoc, Anjou, and the department of Isere. It 
builds among the clefts in the anfractuosities of the 
rocks, making a nest of tempered clay, small straws, 
and feathers. It lays live or six white eggs, spotted 
with red, dark rust, or brown.” 
“This species flies more slowly than its congeners, and 
always in regions most elevated. It almost always seeks 
its food in an undulatory flight above the rocks it 
inhabits. It arrives in Italy and in the south of France 
before the other Swallows, and leaves last. M. Gerbe 
tliinks that some individuals hybernate in certain parts 
of Piedmont, near the borders of France; because when 
the winter is not severe, it is not rare to see them 
in the months of January and February flying above 
the mouth of the Var, and at Nice above the river 
which passes through that city. As this species moults 
before it emigrates, Avhich is peculiar to it, M. Gerbe 
also suggests that those individuals wFich appear in a 
season where generally they are not seen again, are 
the young ones of the last brood, and that a retarded 
moult has obliged them to remain in our climate.” 
The male and female have the upper plumage ash 
grey, with the wings and tail darker. Throat light 
fawn, gradually becoming darker on the chest and 
abdomen; under wing coverts dark smoky brown; linger 
tail coverts hair brown ; the tail feathers, with the 
exception of the two median, and the two external, 
have an oval Avhite spot on their inner web; beak 
