Mintorn Duos -i
Hirundo pristoptera, Rupp. Nene AVirb. Taf. 39. fig. 2 (1835).
Hirundo {Chelidon) pristoptera, Rupp. t. c. p. 105 (1835).
Atticora alhiscapulata, Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 172 (ex Rupp. MSS.) ; Gray, Hand-1. B.
i. p. 75, no. 861 (1869).
Chelidon pristoptera, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 22 (1845).
Atticora pristoptera. Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 58 (1845) ; id. Cat. Eissir. Brit. AIus. p. 21
(1848) ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 337 (1850) ; Heugl. J. f. O. 1861, p. 420, 1863, p. 4 ;
Brebra, Reis. Habesch, p. 208 (1863); Einseh, Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. p. 217
(1870).
Chelidon (?) pristoptera, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 17 (1856).
Pristoptera typica. Bp. Rivist. Contemp., Torino, 1857, p. 4.
Psalidoprocne pristoptera, Sclater, P .Z .S . 1864, p. 109; Ileugl. Oru. N.O.-Afr. i.
p. 148 (1869) ; Blauf. Geol. & Zool. Abyss, p. 349 (1870) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870,
p. 290; Antin. & Salvad, Viagg. Bogos, p. 71 (1873); Salvad. Ann. AIus. Civic.
Genov. (2) i. p. 123 (1884) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. AIus. x. p. 205 (1885).
P s . om uino c lia ly b co -n ig e r ; su b a la rib u s e t a x illa rib u s albis.
Hab. iu A fric à sep ten trio n a li-o c c id en ta li.
A d u lt. Above glossy b lu e -b la ck , w ith a g re en ish tin g e o n th e w ings a n d ta il j q u ills g re en ish b la ck, th e
in n e r web d u sk y J ta il m u ch fo rk ed , g re en ish b la ck above, d u sk y u n d e rn e a th ; u n d e r surface o f
th e bod y glossy bluc -b la ck ; u n d e r win g -co v e rts a u d axilla rie s w h ite : “ b ill b la c k ; fe e t a n d iris
d u s k y ” {Von H eu g lin ). T o ta l le n g th 5 ’5 iu c h e s ; o f b ill from f ro n t 0 6, from g ap e 0*4 ; wingO' k
ta il 3 ; ta r s u s 0 '3 5 , m iddle to e O'-l, h in d to e 0 '2 , la te r a l to e s 0 '2 5 .
T h e a dult fem a le , a c co rd in g to A'ou H e u g lin a n d S a lvador!, doe s n o t diffei- from th e male.
Hab. Confined to th e m o u n ta in s o f N o r th - e a s te rn A fric a , from Bogos L a n d th ro u g h A b y ssin ia to Shoa
a n d G a lla L a n d .
Tins very distinct species of Rough-winged Swallow was discovered by the late
Dr. Riippell during his travels in Abyssinia in the early part of the present century.
It is easily recognized from all other species of the genus Psalidoprocne by its white
under wing-covcrts and blue coloration.
RiippeU found it iu the province of Scmien, in Abyssinia, where he says that it was
building its nest in tbe crevices of rocks in the valleys, a statement at variance with the