400 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 



21. HiRUNDO NEOXENA, Gld. ( -H. FRONTALIS, Q. et Gaim.), 



The majority of individuals are regular suaimer visitants, but 

 some remain all the year round. They begin their nests late in 

 July ; the earliest eggs we have seen were found on 7th August, 

 and then are to be found on to middle of December. Each pair 

 rears several broods. Gould says they build in smoky chimneys, 

 but we have never found a nest in such a situation, though in 

 every other possible place about houses we have observed their 

 nests. We have never seen a nest in a tree or anywhere but 

 in a building. They take their bath on the wing. 



22. Petrochelidon nigricans, FmZ/. ( =- Hylochelidon). 

 Some few remain all the year, but the bulk leave in May and 



reappear in August. Eggs in October, if not earlier. One of us 

 has on several occasions found morsels of the shell of the river 

 mussel (Gyclas) in the mouth of shot specimens, for what purpose 

 we are unable to say. 



23. Lagenoplastes ariel, Gld. 



We have seen this bird as early (or late) as 1st June. They 

 are plentiful in the first week in August. When they arrive, they 

 roost for some nights in packs in the reeds on the river banks ; 

 and when preparing to migrate in April, they gather in dense 

 flocks about sunset and fly up and down the river for an hour, 

 sometimes rising to a great height in the air, and then coming 

 down nearly perpendicularly, ending by roosting in the reeds as 

 when arriving. In the month of February, 1887, they behaved 

 in this way for a few days, and then resumed their ordinary habits 

 till April 7th, when they packed and departed. We have taken 

 the eggs from 1st September to December. Gould says they club 

 together in fives and sixes to build a nest, bat we have never seen 

 more than two building, although one of us has seen three or four 

 feeding the young, probably themselves young of an earlier brood 

 assisting their parents. When their nests are built on the river 

 banks, they hear a footstep or feel the vibration at a great dis- 

 tance, and, flying out with distressed cries, encircle the intruder. 



