PTTONOPBOGNE. 273 



809. Cotile sinensis. The Indian Sand-Martin. 



Hirundo chinensis, J. E. Gray in Hardw. III. Ind. Orn. i, pi. 35, 



f. 3 (1830-2). 

 Hirundo subsoccata, Hodgs. in Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 82 (1844, desc. 



null.). 

 Hirundo sinensis (J. E. Gr.), Blyth, Cat. p. 199. 

 Cotyle sinensis (J. E. Gr.), Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 96 ; Jerd. B. I. i, 



p. 1G4; Anders. Yunnan Evped., Aves, p. 651; Hume, Cat.no. 



89 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 82. 

 Cotyle subsoccata (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. I. i, p. 163 ; Hume, Cat. no. 88. 

 Cotile subsoccata (Hodgs.), Hume, N. Sf E. p. 82. 

 Cotile sinensis (J. E. Gr.), Hume, N. fy E. p. 82 ; Oates, B. B. i, 



p. 309; S/iarpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 104; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 



2nd ed. ii, p. 178. 



The Dusky Martin, The Indian Batik Martin, Jerd. ; Abali, Hind. ; 

 Nakuti, Beng. 



Coloration. Upper plumage greyish brown, most of the feathers 

 margined with paler brown; wings and tail darker brown ; chin, 

 tbroat, breast, sides of the head and neck pale grey ; abdomen, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts white. 



The young bird has all the feathers of the upper plumage and 

 wings broadly margined with rufous, and the chin, throat, and 

 breast are pale rufous. 



Iris brown ; bill black ; legs dark brown. 



Length about 4 ; tail 1*8 ; wing 3'4 ; tarsus "35 ; bill from gape 

 •45 ; bifurcation of tail about *2. 



Distribution. A resident species over the whole of the northern 

 half of India down to about the latitude of Bombay, and probably 

 further south. This Martin ascends the Himalayas wherever 

 the streams are suitable to its habits. In the eastern part of 

 the Empire it extends from Assam to Northern Tenasserim. It 

 is found in Southern China, Siam, and the Philippine Islands. 



Habits, <j-c. Breeds in large societies in the sandy banks of 

 rivers, constructing its nest, which consists of a few feathers and 

 a little grass, in a roundish chamber at the end of a narrow 

 tunnel, frequently three feet in length. The breeding-season lasts 

 from November to February in the greater part of India, but in 

 some parts these Martins breed in April and May. The eggs, 

 either four or five in number, are pure white, and measure about 

 •68 by -48. 



Genus PTY0N0PR0GNE, Reichenb., 1850. 



The genus Ptyonoprogne comprises the Crag-Martins, which are 

 similar in appearance and structure to the Sand-Martins, but differ 

 from them in some important points. 



The Crag- Martins have a white spot on the inner web of all 

 the tail-feathers except the middle and outermost pair; they 



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