rem a in d e r o f u n d e r sui’face p a le faw n-colour, p a le r in th e c e n tre o f th e b r e a s t ; u n d e r ta il-co v c rts
faw n -co lo u r, th e lo n g one s b la c k , edged aud tip p ed w ith fawn-colour.
Tlic sexes, wh en a d u lt, ap p e a r to be ab so lu te ly a lik e in co lo u r, n o r is th e r e a n y difte renc e in size. Tiic
am o u n t o f sp o ttin g on th e th ro a t, however, va rie s conside rably, even in specimens ap p a re n tly
q u ite ad u lt and sh o t a t th e same tim e o f ye a r. T im s, a male procured b y Colonel B u tle r n e a r
N ew c a s tle in O c to b e r h a s s c a rc e ly a n y b la ck spots on th e th ro a t, while a n o th e r p a ir p ro c u re d in
th e same m o n th in th e same loc a lity have th e th ro a t pi-ofusely sp otted. W e im ag in e th a t th e
b ird s which show th e g re a te s t am o u n t o f sp o ttin g a re o ld e r indiv id u a ls, and th a t th e b la ck ban d
a c ross tb e low e r th ro a t is a sig n o f im m a tu r ity , as i t is p re s e n t in a m a rk ed d eg re e in th e
n e s tlin g .
H a b . S o u th -e a s te rn A fric a from th e v ic in ity o f Grahamstown to th e in te r io r o f N a ta l, th e O ran g e Fre e
S ta te , an d th e T ran sv a a l.
The occurrence of a species of Petrochelidon in South Africa is especially interesting,
particularly •when it is discovered that its nearest ally is the Cliff-Swallow of North
^Vmerica {Petrochelidon pyrrhonota); and this fact is the more important when taken in
conjunction with the fact of the Rough-'Winged Swallows hein" confined to the continents
of Africa and America, showin" a curious affinity in the relations of the Swallows
of these two distant regions.
The present species was first made known to science by the late Professor AVahlherg,
who discovered it in Caffraria in 18-19. The “ Caffraria ” of tbat day was the Transvaal
of the present, aud this Swallow has been re-discovered in that country hy Air. Ayres.
It was first described by the late Professor Sundevall as Jlirundo spilodera, the specific
name indicating the white streaks on the hack, which are a prominent feature iu this
and so many otbcr species of Swallow. It was afterwards found •within the precincts
of the Cape Colony, and was identified by Mr. E. L. Layard in 18C7 as the Nortli-
Amei'ican P . lunifrons (i. e. I \ pyrrhonota). In the following year Air. Ayres sent
home specimens from the Transvaal, and these were described by Dr. Uartlaub as
Jlirundo alfredi, being named after II.R.II. The Duke of Edinhurgh. In 1870 we were
enabled, by tbe examination of a typical specimen of Jl. spilodera in the Leiden Museum,
to identify with it the more recently described Jl. alfredi.
Air. Layard writes:—“ The circumstances of its re-discovery in Southern Africa
were very curious. Tlie author was first led to a knowledge of this species by observing
an unusual appearance on an overhanging rock photographed near Aliddleburg during
tlic journey of n.R.II. Prince Alfred through South Africa in 1860. On applying a
strong magnifying-power to tho picture, he distinctly made out that the appearance
consisted of a cluster of birds’ nests. He at once concluded that they were constructed
by some kind of Swallow unknown to us, and requested our zealous contributor, Air.
Jackson, to look well after them, if over he found himself in the neighbourhood. This
he did, aud tells us he counted about twenty nests, under a rock, clustered togetlier.”
Air. Ortlepp wrote to Air. Layard from Colcsbcrg;—“ The nests are composed of
pellets of mud closely packed together. I counted no less thau sixty in a square yard
against an overhanging bank. Each nest is a half-sphere, with a small hole for entrance.
The Boers tell me that formerly these birds were unknown to them, and when first seen
they appeared in small number.><, which is not the case now, as I saw hundreds liawking
about near Sandport. I calculate that at least two thousand will be hatched at this
place this season.”
According to Atr. Layard these Swallows also bred near Sidhury, about twcnty-eiglit
miles from Grahamstown, in 1870; and about the same time Air. T. C. Atmore
forwarded to him several specimens from the neighbourhood of Eland’s Post. Accordimi
to Colonels Butler and Peilden and Captain Reid, the species was very numerous in the
Newcastle district of Natal, breeding in October.
Dr. II. Exton has sent specimens of adults and young birds from the neighbourhood
of Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, and, as already mentioned, Air. Ayres has
found the speeies breeding in the 'i'ransvaal near Potcliefstroom.
Colonels Butler aud Feilden and Captain lleid give the following account of tho
nesting of this species :—“ The nests arc large globular mud structures, very similar to
those of Chelidon nrbica, with a hole near the top, and warmly lined with feathers
matted together. As a rule they are built under cliffs and rocks overhanging small
streams from one to nine feet above tiic surface of the water, and are packed clo.selv
together. In some instances the entrance-hole slightly projects, but never so much as
to form a passage, as in the nests of JJinindo eucullata. In a colony at the Ingaganc
River, visited by Reid, there were as many as 200 nests together in one clump, and
several smaller ones close by, quite four hundred nests in all, while in others there wero
not more thau fifteen or twenty. 'J'hree eggs appear to be the regular luimber, for iu
one nest ouly did we meet with four. Tlie eggs, which vary much in size, are white,
rather finely spotted and blotched with reddish brown aud chestnut, or inky purple, the
markings heing rather more numerous towards the obtuse end. AVe took them iu
October and November. The birds were first noticed about their nesting-pluccs at the
end of August. They appear to resort to the same place to breed every year. It would
appear that they make use of the ‘ daaga,’ or cement-like mixture of which the ants
form their hills, iu the construction aud repair of their nests; one was shot by Reid,
sitting on the top of a broken ant-hill, with its mouth full of this material, which, from
its binding properties, is collected aud used as mortar throughout the ujiper districts of
the colony.”
Of the eggs sent by Air. Ortlepj), Air. Layard observes as follows :—“ The eggs sent
are very beautiful, being a delicate wliito, tinged with the fiiintest blush of pink, shotted,
ehieily in a ring near the larger end, with different sized spots of various shades of brown,
vorditer, and even yellow.”
The descriptions are taken from specimens in the British Aluseum, and the figures
have been drawn from an adult bird procured by Colonel Butler near Newcastle, tho
young one from a specimen shot ucar Bloemfontein by Dr. Exton.