Descriptive List of the Common Birds 



backward continuation of the beak. When the 

 bird is disturbed and when it flies the crest is 

 expanded hke a fan. Ahnost every lawn in 

 India forms the feeding-ground for at least 

 one pair of hoopoes. Hoopoes nest in holes 

 in trees or in the walls of buildings. 



123. Upupa indica : The Indian Hoopoe. 



(F. 1067), (J- 255), (in.) 



Head and body fawn-coloured. Wings and 

 tail white with very broad black bars. The 

 beak is 2i inches long, and the legs are very 

 short. The feathers of the crest have black 

 tips. The note is a soft uk — uk — uk, rapidly 

 repeated. (lUus. B. D., p. 140.) 



The Swifts, 124 and 125 



These birds are frequently confounded with 

 swallows (q.v.). Many species visit India, but 

 only two are really common birds. 



124. Cypselus affinis : The Common Indian 

 Swift. (F. 1073), (J. 100), (- 1.) 



A blackish bird, with a white bar across the 

 back, which flies with great velocity ; the 

 wings form the arc of a circle as it dashes 

 through the air. It never perches. When it 

 wishes to rest it repairs to its nest, which is 

 167 



