allen’s naturalist’s library. 
32S 
species,C. cashmiriensis and C. nipalensis, are Himalayan 
au the s 
the house-martin, chelidon urbica. 
Hirundo urbica, Linn., Syst. Nat, i, p. 344 (1766); Macg, 
(i8gf)’ ’ P ' 573 (i84 °) ; Seeb -> Br - B -> ii-, p. 178 
Chelidon urbica, Dresser, B. Eur, p. 4Q c P 1 162 O87-D 
D S' 349 (l880); B 0 U ‘ List Br B.; 
p ' *« (,SS9)i Lnford - 
Adan Male-Purplish blue-black ; wings and tail-feathers 
black, with a slight greenish reflection externally ; rump and 
pper tail-coverts black ; cheeks and under surface of body 
pure white, with a tinge of smoky-brown on the flanks : under 
wing-coverts and axillaries smoky-brown ; bill and feet black ■ 
ins dark brown. Total length, 5-5 inches; culmen, 0-35- 
wmg, 4 ’5 ; tail, 2-5 ; tarsus, 0-4.5. ’ 
Adult Female— Similar to the male in colour. Total length 
5 inches ; wing, 4-5. en & tn > 
Young.-Differs from the adults in being duller, and dis- 
tinguished by its yellow gape and the white tips to the secon- 
dary quills ; the throat is smoky-brown. 
Range in Great Britain.— Occurs everywhere in summer and 
lands S 6Ven m the HebndeS ’ and in the 0rk neys and Shet- 
Range outside tlie British Islands — The House- Martin appears to 
be found everywhere in Europe, but becomes rarer in the north 
of Scandinavia, and was not met with by Messrs. Seebohm and 
Harvie-Brown on the Petchora, though it is said to occur on 
the Urals as high as 6o«. Its eastern range is established as 
far as Tashkend in Central Asia, and it may be the species of 
the Altai Mountains. In winter the Martin visits Africa as far 
south as Natal and also occurs sparingly in North-western 
India, and has been met with as far south as the Nilghiris. 
Habits— Arrives a little later than the Common Swallow, 
