CYPSELIN^. 173 



some time after sunset, I saw an enormous flock of them pass over 

 the bungalow at Canote, in Malabar, about 14 miles from the coast 

 at Tellicherry. They were flying nearly due west, towards the 

 sea, not steadily, but picking off insects by the way. Where could 

 those birds be travelling to so late ? There are some high cliffs on 

 the sea shore near, but, as well from inquiries that I made, as from 

 personal researches, I do not think that they roosted in that neighbour- 

 hood. Some of this family, as will be seen under Cohcalia nidifica, 

 are in the habit of returning very late to roost, and I think it probable 

 that these birds would travel, up or down the coast, many miles to 

 some rock or precipice, their favourite haunt. Had there been 

 any rocky islands out at sea I would have at once supposed they 

 were bound there, but with the exception of the Sacrifice rock, 

 which is too small and low, and which I have visited, I know 

 none in the neighbourhood. 



Layard observed this Swift in Ceylon only among the hills, flying 

 in immense flocks, and their wings causing quite a rushing noise 

 in the air. He was told by the natives that they bred in holes 

 in old Rhododendron trees. This I think very unlikely. As this 

 species does not, as far as we know at present, extend to the 

 Himalayas, it probably breeds in some of the rocky islands of 

 Malayana, as it is known to inhabit Penang and other parts of the 

 Malay province. A specimen from Penang wants the white spot 

 at the side of the forehead, is darker, more glossed in the 

 lower parts, and is larger, with a longer wing than a specimen shot 

 by myself in Southern India, but 1 do not look on these differences 

 as important. 



The next bird is now placed under the division Hirundapns. 

 It has the naked shafts of the tail feathers less strong, and the 

 spinous tips protude abruptly. 



97. Acanthylis caudacuta, Lath. 



Hirundo, apud Latham— Chaet. nudipes, Hodgson, J. A. S., V. 

 779— HoRSF., Cat. 130— A. fusca, Shaw, apud Blyth, Gat. 

 419 — C. leuconotus,DELESSERT,Guer. Mag. Zool., pl.20— Gould, 

 Birds of Australia, 2, pi. 10. 



