G e n ü s i l c o t i l e .
Type.
Clivicola, T. F orster, Syn. Cat. Brit. B. p. 55 (1 8 1 7 ) .........................................C. riparia.
Cotilc, Boic, Isis, 1822, p. 650 C. riparia.
Range. Breeding in the northern parts of both the Old and New Worlds. The migratory species
wintering in South America, as well as in India and Africa, where there are also resident
species.
T h e differences in nesting-habits and th e colour of tlie eggs between the Sand-Martins
and tho Eock-Martins, which wo bayc included u n d e r tho one heading of Cotile,
appear to ns, on fu rth e r oousideration, to deserve generic distinction. Tlie Comtnou
Sand-Martin (CotUe riparia), with its allies C. dilu ta an d C. shelleyi, has a little
tu f t of feathers a t th e base of th e hinder tarsu s, showing an affinity to th e IIouse-
Martins (Chelidon). O. congica, on tho other hand, has no tarsa l tu ft ot feathers, hut
reta in s tho b an d on th e fore neck, which makes i t a n intermediate species between
the section containing Cotile riparia and G. shelleyi, and the little G. sinensis and its
African allies, which have no tbroat-band. To th e genus CotUe we shall refer all the
Bank-Martins, which tu n n el holes for th e ir nests and lay white eggs, while to the genus
SiliUs will be referred th e Eock-Martins, which lay spotted eggs, like th e Swallows, and
have also tho Swallow-like character of a spotted tail. F o r those ornithologists who
adopt the name CUmcola tb e following species will have to he included :— Clivicola
riparia, C. diluta, C. shelleyi, 0 . cincta, C. congica, C. paludicola, C. minor, C. cowani,
ami C. sinensis.
Clavis specierum.
a. Fascicula plumosa ad fiucm tarsi postici posita : torques pectoralis bruimca.
o'. Major: alù 4-25-1.-35 poll.
a". Torques pectoralis obvia, satura ti bruunea. ,
b". Torques pectoralis vix obvia, pallidi bruimca
b'. Minor : ali'i 3'55 poll...................................................
b. Fascicula piumosa ad fincin tarsi postici nulla.
c'. Torques pectoralis bruunea.
1. riparia, p. 13 .
2. diluía, p. 63 .
3. shelleyi, p. 6."j .
4. cincia, p. <
a". Major: subalaribus albis : alà 5*0 poll. . .
b". Jliuor : subalaribus b ru im e is ....................................................................... 5- conytca, ji. « 1 .
6. paludicola, p. 73 .
7. minor, p. .
d'. Torques pectoralis n u l l a < cowani, p. 79 .
.'J. sinensis, p. 31 .