318 Capt. Beavan on the Avifauna 



15. CoLLOCALiA AFFiNis, Tytler, sp. nov. ? Small Edible- 

 nest Swiftlet. 



The dimensions of specimens in his collection are as follows : — 



cJ Length 3-7'5 in., wing 3-52 in., tail 1-36 in. 

 2 „ 3-5 „ 3-7o „ r36 „ 



Descr. — The upper parts are jet black, with green and blue 

 reflections; throat and breast brown; belly yellowish white; 

 under tail-coverts dark brown, with green reflections, each 

 feather edged with white ; bill and legs black. 



The male is a slightly larger and darker bird than the female. 

 The nest of this species in Col. Tytler's collection resembles 

 that of C. nidifica, but is considerably smaller and perhaps 

 whitei', on which account it is more valued by the Burmese and 

 others, who collect both kinds for the Chinese and Penang 

 markets. Extreme outside diameter 1*75 in., transversely across 

 1*5 in., depth inside '5 to "75 in., and outside 1 inch. It is 

 generally abundant at Port Blair, especially between Aberdeen 

 and Navy Bay, where every cave is full of their nests and those 

 of the previous species. 



Captain Blair, the founder of the original Settlement on the 

 Andamans, in 1 789, has given a good account of the nidi- 

 fication of both these peculiar birds, which is that quoted by 

 Dr. Mouat (p. 186). 



16. Caprimulgus asiaticus, Lath. ? The Common Indian 

 Nightjar ? 



" I observed two Caprimulgi on one occasion, but could not 

 get them " (R. C. T.). This species will probably turn out to 

 be C. asiaticus from the neighbouring coast of Burmah, for I 

 have observed them at sea between the two. 



17. Merops philippensis, Linn. 

 Blue-tailed Bee-eater has been observed. 



18. Merops quinticolor, Vieillot. 

 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater " is also common" (R. C, T,). 



19. Halcyon leucocephalus (Linn.)*. White-headed 

 Kingfisher. 



* [Cf. P. Z. S. ISGG, p. 553.— Ed.] 



