i I
oxpericnce of Dr. Von Ueuglin (vide infrd). Mr. Blanford states that he shot but one
specimen of the bird in Abyssinia, at Dongolo in Tigrh, at a height of 6500 feet above
the sea. He saw it occasionally both on the highlands and in the Anscba vallev, but
never below 4000 feet elevation. Mr. Jesse, during the British e.xpedition to Aby;sinia,
procured a specimen at Eayray-guddy in tho last-named country, and met with the
species again at Bejook in Bogos Land. The late Marquis Antinori likewise procured
specimens at Keren in Bogos Land, in May. He states that a little flock of eiriit
individuals appeared about the middle of May, and stayed for some days in the mountains
near Keren, hut they disappeared soon afterwards, and he did not see any durin«-
the succeeding months : he believes tho species to be rare to the north of Abyssinia
The late Baron Von neuglin gives tho following account of the species as observed
by h i m “ It is migratory in Abyssinia, and appears in Galla Laud, iu Central and
iN orthern Abyssinia (as far north as 17» N. lat.), at the end of April and the beginning
ot May. It then lives in pairs in the mountain valleys at a lieight of from 4000 to
10,000 feet. It sings during flight and when perolied on tho dead tops ot trees, after
the manner of the Chimney-Swallow; and about the beginning ot July it makes its nest
in horizontal holes, from about ono to tliree feet in depth, those'being apparently
excavated by the birds themselves. Those holes are found in steep banks of wild
rivulets and gorges, generally singly, never more than two or three together, each nest
being m a .separate hole. The alluvium in which they are placed is often so hard that
it is with the greatest difflculty that the nest can ho drawn out entire into the davli-ht.
Ihe nest is large, flat, aud tolerably artistically woven together with blades of gra’ss,Ind
lined with finer substances. I found two eggs, very thiii-sholled and pnre white in
colour; the length was 8-)"', and the diameter 5"'-8. The birds undouhtedly have two
Di’oods iu tile season.
“ I never saw this species on the White or Blue Niles, nor in any part of the oast
Soudan province. It is seen along mountain torrents and pasture-lands, aud on rocks
and occasionally rests on the dead branches of tho lower trees. Its flio-ht is -encralL
liigli and swift. ®
“ Rupiiell says tliat this Swallow places its iicst in crevices of rocks, whereas I
myself, as incntioued above, only know them as building in holes, and I had a good many
opportunities of observing their nesting-places." The late Marquis Antinori obtained
two speeunens iii Shoa at Sciotalit in March, and in the forests of I'ochorie-Ghcm in
J lino.
The description and figure of tliis bird arc both taken from Mr. Blaiiford’s Donmilo
specimen in the British Museum. ’