28 
I am not fully satisfied of the propriety of placing the bird I de- 
scribed in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society ’ as Hirundo 
leucosternon in the present genus : if on a further knowledge of the 
Australian birds it should prove that I have been correct in so doing, 
it would be somewhat singular that the genus should have repre- 
sentatives in Africa and Australia, but not in India. 
51. Atticora leucosternon, Gould Vol. II. PI. 12. 
Since I described and figured this species I have received nume- 
rous examples from Swan River, where Mr. Gilbert observed it on 
the 19th of August flying about the holes of the Boodee ( Betiongia 
Grayii ) in pairs ; but it was not until the latter end of September 
that he succeeded in finding their nests placed at the extremities 
of holes bored in the side of a bank. All the holes that he saw 
were perfectly round, not more than two inches in diameter, run- 
ning horizontally, and of the same dimensions, for three feet from 
the entrance, and then expanding to the extent of four inches and 
forming the receptacle of the nest, which is constructed of the broad 
portions of dried grasses and the dry dead leaves of the Acacia. Mr. 
Johnson Drummond informed him that he had frequently found 
seven, eight or nine eggs in a single nest, from which he inferred 
that more than one female lays in the same nest : the eggs are white, 
somewhat lengthened, and pointed in form. It would seem that the 
holes are not constructed exclusively for the purpose of nidification, 
for upon Mr. Gilbert’s inserting a long grass stalk into one of them 
five birds made their way out, all of which he succeeded in catch- 
ing ; upon his digging to the extremity in the hope of procuring 
their eggs, no nest was found, and hence he concludes that their 
holes are also used as places of resort for the night. 
Subfamily HIRUNDININZE. 
Genus Hirundo. 
The members of the genus Hirundo , or true Swallows, inhabit 
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, the Indian Islands and 
Australia, where the European and American chimney Swallows, 
Hirundo rustica and 11. rufa } are beautifully represented by the //. 
neoxena. 
52. Hirundo neoxena, Gould, Vol. II. PI. 13. 
Hirundo neoxena , Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 1 13. 
Genus Chelidon. 
I find that by some unaccountable mistake I have placed the 
Australian members of this genus in that of Collocalia , — an error 
which I take this opportunity of correcting. 
The two species inhabiting Australia are both represented by 
others in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. They differ somewhat 
from each other in habits, one always resorting to the holes of trees 
