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Show 306 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON ETHIOPIAN HIRUNDINIDEE. [May 12, of B. i. p. 57 (1845); Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 338 (1850); Cass. Cat. Hirund. Phil. Acad. p. 2( 1852); Miill. Journ. f.Orn. 1855, p. 4 ; Bonap. Rivist. Contemp. Torin. 1857, p. 4 ; Cass. Proc. Acad. Philad. 1859, p. 33 ; Bias. Naum. 1859, p. 254 ; Hartl. Journ. f. Orn. 1861, p. 103; Tristr. Ibis, 1862, p. 278; Antin. Cat. Coll. Ucc. p. 26 (1865) ; Blyth, Ibis, 1866, pp. 237, 336 ; Gurney, Ibis, 1866, p. 423; Taylor, Ibis, 1867, pp. 56, 57; Tristr. Ibis, 1867, p. 361 ; Saunders, Ibis, 1869, p. 396 ; Heugl. Orn. N.-O. Afr. p. 152; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 68 (1869); Elwes and Buckl. Ibis, 1870, p. 200. Hirundo boissoneauti, Temm. Man. d'Orn. iv. p. 652 (1840); Liuderm. Vog. Griechenl. p. 119 (1860). Cecropis boissoneauti, Brehm, Journ. f. Orn. 1853, p. 452. Hirundo rustica, var. orientalis, Schl. Rev. Crit. p. xviii (1844); Adams, Ibis, 1864, p. 14. Hirundo rustica, var. savignii, Bree, B. of Eur. iii. p. 170. Above rather dull steel-blue; quills washed externally with dull greenish steel-blue ; tail brownish black, glossed on the upper surface with dull greenish steel-blue, all the spots on tbe inner webs of the feathers pale buff; forehead chestnut; space between the bill and the eye black; throat and entire under surface chestnut; a broad band across the upper part of the breast dusky black, washed with steel-blue; bill black; feet dark brown. Total length 6*5 inches, wing 4*5, tail 3. Hab. Egypt (Taylor, Adams, et al.); Palestine, on the coast (in the maritime plains) and throughout the length of the Jordan valley (Tristram); Nubia (Riippell) ; 1 Greece (Lindermayer) ; 1 Constantinople (Robson). The limited range which I allow to this species will doubtless be surprising to some ornithologists who are accustomed to believe that H. riocouri occurs and breeds with //. rustica in various portions of Europe, and, further, that it has occurred in England. Notwithstanding that it is in direct contradiction to the opinion of Professor Blasius, who is worthily considered one of our first authorities on European ornithology, I venture to suggest that Hirundo riocouri is strictly a South-eastern European bird, possessing a very limited range, and that all the specimens set down as this species which have occurred in Western Europe are nothing but the full spring plumage of Hirundo rustica. I have seen so many specimens marked in collections as the former bird which are nothing more than H. rustica, that I confess I require more positive evidence before I can bring myself to believe that H. riocouri occurs as other than an accidental visitor away from Egypt and Palestine. This being my conviction, I fear that Professor Blasius has been mistaken in supposing that it breeds regularly in Western Europe and pairs with H. rustica. Again, however, on the other hand, the learned Professor states that Mr. Olph-Galliard exhibited at a meeting in Cothen a specimen of the supposed H. riocouri taken at St. Gothard ; and he also states that he had received specimens from Europe as intense in colour as African skins (Naumannia, 1859, p. 254). As regards the |
