404 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



species when seen on the wing, flitting up and down the small 

 streams as H. rustica does in England. 



85. HiRUNDO DAURicA. Red-i'umped Swallow. 



I noticed this species, at Simla about the end of April 

 1866, now and then about the house, as if in quest of 

 a place to build in ; but apparently it does not breed until 

 much later ; for I found a nest which was built in the veranda of 

 the dak bungalow at Eagoo on the 2nd August, 1866. It was 

 then but just finished, and the female had not yet begun to lay 

 her eggs. The nest is like that of H. rustica, made of mud, but 

 has a funnel-shaped entrance some four or five inches in 

 length, continued from the top of the nest along the angle 

 caused by the meeting of the wall and the roof. The female 

 keeps inside the nest; and from the continued twittering 

 which she made when visited by the male, I thought at first 

 that the nest contained young ; and it was not until I drove her 

 out that I discovered my mistake. I observed this species at 

 Simla up to September 15th, when I noticed that it was almost 

 the only species visible, and still common. A specimen killed 

 on the 18th June at Simla measured : — Length 6*625 in. ; 

 wing 4*5 ; tail (imperfect) 3 ; tarsus "5 ; bill from front '9375 ; 

 extent 11*5. Bill black ; legs dark reddish brown ; claws black. 



89. CoTYLE SINENSIS. Indian Bank-Martin. 

 I observed this species in some abundance on the 1st April, 

 1866, when on the march from Umballab to Kalka, and within 

 some ten or twelve miles of the latter place. They had appa- 

 rently done breeding at this time of year. The following are 

 the dimensions of two specimens then procured : — 



Length. Wing. Tail. Extent. Tarsus. Bill from front. 

 4-25 3-5 1-625 9-5 -4375 -2 



4-375 3-7 1-75 10 -4375 -25 



The wings exceed the tail by '25 to '375 in. ; the irides are dark. 



98. Cypselus melba. Alpine Swift. 



At Simla, on the 15th September, 1866, my attention was 

 drawn by my friend Colonel Gott to a large flight of these elegant 

 birds, which were sporting about, at some height in the air, over 

 the station. This was my first acquaintance with this species. 



