202 Zoological Society : — 



districts of India, except on the bare table-land." I have, however, 

 never met with its nest or eggs. 



Genus Hirundo. 



HiRUNDO FiLiFERA, Stephens. 



This very handsome Swallow breeds in old temples and under 

 projecting stones in wells and banks of streams. On 28th January 

 1850, 1 found the nest of this species built in an old well under a large 

 stone, near the water ; the nest was not domed, but open, and the 

 young ones, three in number, exposed to view. On 1st April 1851, 

 I took an egg out of a nest of this Swallow ; the nest contained 

 three. The old birds began building about 15th March; the nest 

 was composed of mud, lined with a few fibrous roots and feathers ; 

 it was built under a stone in the bank of a stream. The egg is 

 3^ths of an inch in length, by rather more than ^ths in width ; 

 white, spotted with two shades of red-brown, the spots forming a 

 broken belt round the larger end. 



Order Rasores. 



Family Pavonid^e. 



Genus Pavo. 



Pavo cristatus. Common Peafowl,. 



Peafowl abound in the jungles clothing the slopes of the Ghauts, 

 and in some wooded districts in the interior. In the Deccan, in the 

 wooded hilly portions of the districts of Jamkhair and Scogao they 

 were plentiful, and a remarkably pretty sight it was to see them 

 stalking about near the grain stacks, or running along the bushy 

 banks of the nullahs. They are wary birds, and lead the sportsman 

 a good chase when once they take to the low spurs of the hills, up 

 which they run with incredible swiftness. The best plan to secure 

 them is to wait for their roosting time, under the trees to which they 

 resort. Thick mango trees appear to be their favourite resting-places. 

 Peafowl breed at the end of the monsoon, in the months of September 

 and October, laying, I am told, from three to five eggs, of a huffy 

 white colour, 2 inches and nearly ^ths in length, by 2 inches and 

 nearly i^th in width. The nest is said to be composed of grass, and 

 formed on the ground amongst bushes. 



Genus Gallus, Briss. 

 Gallus Sonneratii, Temm. 



As I have not been fortunate enough to obtain the eggs of this 

 jungle fowl, I have again recourse to my friend Dr. Jerdon's notes. 

 He says, " I once found the eggs of this fowl, seven in number, on 

 the ground in dense jungle at the foot of the Neilgherries. They 

 were of a light pinkish-cream colour." 



