H IHUNDO M E LA N O C R IS SA
s melanocrissus, Biipp. Syst. Uebers. pp. 17, 22 (1845) ; Des Murs in Lefebvr.
Voy. Abyss., Zool. p. 79 (1849); Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. IG (185G).
Hirundo rufula (pt.), Bp. Consp. i. p. 339 (1850).
Hirundo melanocrissa, Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. G9, no. 807 (1869) ; Hougl. Orn. N.O.«
Afr. i. p. 159 (1869) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 315 ; Blanf. GeoL & Zool. Abyss,
p. 34G (1870) ; Einseh, Trans. Z, S. vii. p. 319 (1870) ; Ileugl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. iv.
App. p. Ivii (1874) ; Bochebr. Faun. Séuég., Ois. p. 218 (1884) ; Salvaci. Ann.
Mus. Civic. Genov. (2) i. p. 121 (1884) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds iu Brit. Mus. x.
p . 1G5 (1885).
Lillia nielanocrissa, Hume, Str. F. 1877, p. 258.
H . u ro p y g io ru fo ; p ileo dorso co u co lo ri ; su b tù s fulvesceiis, v ix s tr io la ta , g u ttu r e e t prcepectore ta u tum
s triis lin e a rib u s obso le tè n o ta tis .
Hab. in A fric a s e p te n trio n a li-o rie u ta li e t iu p ro v in c ia G an ib en s i in te rio re .
A d u lt. Above de ep indig o -b lu e glossed w ith p u rp le , with th e usu a l w h ite liu e s ou th e u p p e r p a r t o f th e
ba ck ; fe a th e rs in f ro u t o f th e eye b la ck ; a n a rrow line o f feathei-s from th e base o f th e bill
e x te n d in g ba ckw a rd s ov e r th e eye, sides o f th e ne ck, a n d ro u u d th e n ap e , a n d fo rm in g a n in te r r
u p te d n u c h a l colla r, d eep s ie n u a ; rum p p a le r s ien n a ; q u ills b row n ish black, glossed with g re e n ish
s te e l-b lu e ; u p p e r ta il-co v e rts de ep s te e l-b lu e ; ta il-fe a th e rs b rownish black, glossed with g re en ish
above ; ch e ek s a u d th ro a t pa le bufly w hite , th e sh a fts o f th e fe a th e rs m a rk ed by sm a ll b la ck Hues ;
r e s t o f th e body buff, with f a iu t s tre a k s ; th e apic a l e nd o f th e u u d e r ta il-co v e rts g lossy b lu e -b la ck ,
h a v in g th e ap p e a ran c e o f a b la ck p a tc h ; b ill b la ck ; fe e t d a rk brown. To ta l len g th 7 inche s,
cu lm en 0 4 , w ing A 7 , ta il 3 '6 , ta rsu s ()-6.
Hub. N o rth -e a s te rn A fric a g en e ra lly , a n d th e in te r io r o f S enegam bia .
Tuis Swallow belong.s to the riifous-rumped section of the genus Hirundo, witli the head
blue like the back. The under surface of the body is streaked, but very faintly, the
dusky shaft-lines being confined to the throat and chest.
l)r. Biippell, who discovered the species in Abyssinia, states tliat he found it on the
high plateau of Tembeu and in the lake-country of the province of Semieii. He met
with it in summer from July to October, and he describes it as placing its nest against
walls of rock, its habits being those of the common Chimney-Swallow.
Von Heuglin writes :—“ This Swallow is generally found in pairs throughout the
rainy season until the month of February in Central Abyssinia, both in the mountains