A young male from K o sso um is m u ch d u lle r a n d m o re p u rp lish b la ck above, a n d ha s ru fo u s
tip s to th e u p p e r ta il-c o v e rts a u d in n e r se conda rie s ; u n d e rn e a th th e ru fo u s is n o t o f so de ep a
c h e s tn u t a s in th e a d u lt, a n d th e ch e s t and sides o f th e b re a s t a re m o ttle d w ith d u sk y black
Hab. M a lay an P en in su la .
T h i s beautiful Swallow takes the place in the Malayan Peninsula of Hirundo hyperythra
of Ceylon, to which it is very closely allied. It is, however, a much larger and finer
bird, aud has scarcely any indication of black streaks on tho under surface.
The present species appears to be confined to the Malayan Peninsula, the first
example having been described by Cassiu from a Malaccan specimen in the Philadeljihia
Museum. A specimen in the Tweeddale collection, and another in the British Museum,
were all the specimens recorded as existing in collections, until Mr. Davison procured
the types of Ceeropis archetes of llume.
The Hume collection contains a fine series of this Swallow, showing that its range
is pretty extensive. Prom Malacca itself specimens shot in March aud July are represented,
and four examples were obtained in October, 1875, by ilr . Davison in Kiu'oo, a
native State 26 miles distant from Malacca. Several specimens were procured bv
Mr. Davison in Selangore in March and August, and it extends as high as the Tonka
district, for in the Hume collection are specimens collected by Mr. Darling at Kossoum
in May, Poongyah in August, and Girbu in September.
No notes have been published on the habits of this species.
The descriptions are taken from the series in the British Museum, but we have not
figured the species, as it so closely resembles the Ceylonese H. hyperythra.