Chelidon dasypus Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium (1850), 1, 343;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1885), 10, 91.
Chelidonaria dasypus Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 188; Oates and
Reid, Cat. Birds' Eggs (1903), 3, 230; McGregor, Bull. Philippine
Mus. (1904), 4, 33; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 69.
Calayan (McGregor). Japan; Borneo in winter.
"Adult male (type of species).--General color above dull purplish blue,
with white bases to the feathers; wing-coverts and quills blackish
with a slight blue gloss; rump and upper tail-coverts pure white, with
narrow dusky shaft-lines; the long upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers
blackish with a faint blue gloss; tail very slightly forked; head like
the back; lores and feathers below the eye black; ear-coverts dull
purplish blue, as also the sides of neck and sides of upper breast,
the latter slightly mottled with white bases; fore part of cheeks
and under surface of body creamy buff, washed with smoky brown on
the breast and flanks, with a little purer white on the fore neck and
abdomen; under tail-coverts smoky brown, broadly edged with whitish,
the long coverts blacker with broad whitish edging; axillars and
under wing-coverts dark brown, the small coverts near edge of wing
edged with pale smoky brown; quills dull ashy brown below. Length,
117; wing, 104; tail, 26; culmen, 7; tarsus, 12." (Sharpe.)
Female.--Above blackish brown, slightly glossed with steel-blue, and
the feathers with white bases which show through on the neck and back;
a white band across rump, some of its feathers with smoky brown shafts
and tips; wings and tail blackish brown; lores, subocular line, and
ear-coverts smoky brown; under parts white; chin and breast washed
with light smoky brown; under tail-coverts smoky brown with darker
shafts and white tips. Length, 117; wing, 104; tail, 46; culmen from
base, 7; tarsus, 7.
Very little is known concerning the occurrence of the Siberian swallow
in the Philippines where it has been found only during migration.
Genus RIPARIA Forster, 1817.
Plumage dull in color, above brownish black or earthy brown; no band
across rump and no light spots on the tail which is but slightly
forked; tarsi and toes nearly or quite naked.
Species.
a1. Larger; wing, 95 mm. or more; a small tuft of feathers on back
of tarsus at base of hind toe; a dark band across breast. ... riparia
(p. 425)
a2. Smaller; wing, 90 mm. or less; no tuft of feathers on tarsus;
no dark band across breast. ... chinensis (p. 426)