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Show 1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON ETHIOPIAN HIRUNDINIDEE. 287 firmly believe, is not represented in the Ethiopian Region. It must be remembered that the type of the genus Atticora is the Hirundo fasciata of Gmelin, a Brazilian species, remarkable for its small round nostrils, which are devoid of any overhanging membrane. Professor Baird states that the only two specimens of A. fasciata examined by him had only ten tail-feathers: but this must have been accidental; for I examined the large series recently brought home by Mr. Edward Bartlett from the Peruvian Amazons, and every bird had its full complement of twelve tail-feathers. Admitting that Petrochelidon, which is represented in Africa, is a distinct genus from Atticora, which I consider to have been satisfactorily proved by Professor Baird, I submit that a species of true Atticora has yet to be discovered in Africa, until which time the genus must be banished from the catalogue of its avifauna. In the consideration of the rest of the family I follow Professor Baird in deeming the nostrils to be the chief distinguishing characteristic, and particular attention must be paid to the presence or absence of an overhanging membrane on the upper edge of the nostril. In the true Swallows and Martins it is always present, while in the Atticora group it is not developed. The genera and subgenera included by Professor Baird in this latter group are Progne, Phceo-progne, Petrochelidon, Atticora, Notiochelidon, Neochelidon, Pygo-chelidon, and Stelgidopteryx, of which number, however, the learned Professor only admits Petrochelidon, Atticora, and Stelgidopteryx as worthy of generic rank. As before mentioned, it is m y intention to separate the latter genus along with Psalidoprocne as a distinct subfamily. It is, however, more with Professor Baird's second group of Swallows, in which he includes the genera and subgenera Hirundo, Tachycineta, Cotyle, and Callichelidon, that we have to deal in the present paper, inasmuch as, Tachycineta and Callichelidon being admitted to be only subgenera, we have left Hirundo and Cotyle, both of which are strongly represented in the Ethiopian Region. I think, however, Professor Baird has laid too much stress on the small tuft of feathers on the inner base of the tarsus as a generic character of Cotyle; for in our common Sand- Martin (Cotyle riparia), the only American species of the genus, this is indeed very strongly developed, but in every other species of the genus that I have seen it is absolutely wanting, and should therefore be taken as of specific rather than of generic importance. The genus Chelidon is easy to distinguish, by reason of the densely feathered tarsi. Waldenia has been lately proposed by me for the reception of the Hirundo niyrita of Gray. My friend Dr. O. Finsch thinks that this bird is only subgenerically separable from Progne ; but although in many respects there is a resemblance, yet in the bareness of the upper joint of the tarsus in Waldenia is very different from Progne, which has it densely feathered, and this character alone is of strong generic importance. I have in conclusion to thank the many kind friends who have lent m e specimens or otherwise assisted me in the preparation of the present paper. Treating the subject in precisely the same manner as Messrs. |
