RUFOUS SWALLOW. 179 



russet of the rump, which passes decidedly into a 

 whitish tint posteriorly. 



"It is distinguished from Melanocrissa hy the presence 

 at all ages of the streaks on the under parts; hy the 

 absence of the anal russet border; by the less deep 

 russet of the collar; by the brighter red on the rump 

 passing into white posteriorly; and by the whitish spot 

 which almost always is found on the external tail 

 feather." 



Since the above was written by M. De Selys, we 

 have further accounts of this bird, which not only 

 verify his prognostication as to the true country, but 

 appear to remove all doubts as to the identity of H. 

 rufula and H. Daurica. I allude to the observations 

 of Mr. Tristram, before noticed, that it entirely takes 

 the place of H. rustica in the Holy Land and in 

 Egypt. Also to the still more important and interesting 

 account given of H. rufula, by Mr. Simpson, (Ibis, 

 vol. ii., p. 288,) where he describes it as inhabiting 

 Missolonghi and Southern iEtolia, and further gives some 

 most interesting accounts of its nidification in Western 

 Greece, in the same volume, p. 386. Mr. Simpson 

 describes the egg as white, which is further proof of 

 the identity of this bird with H. Daurica. 



M. Ed. De Selys-Longchamps has very kindly sent 

 me his Grecian specimen, which I have had very carefully 

 figured; and through the kindness of Mr. Tristram, I 

 am also able to figure one of the eggs taken by Mr. 

 Simpson, in Greece. M. De Selys accompanied the 

 specimen with some valuable remarks, from which I 

 extract the following: — 



"As to Hirundo rufula, my statements are quite 

 verified as to its country being the mountains of Eastern 

 Asia, since Mr. Tristram (Ibis, vol. i., p. 27,) indicates 



