PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 231 
Upupa tnpica (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 161). 
UPUPA NIGRIPENNIS (Legge, p. 278). 
The Indian Hoopoe. 
Description.—Head, crest, hind-neck, throat, upper back, 
and breast cinnamon brown. The crest feathers are broadly 
tipped with black, and the breast has a vinaceous tinge. The 
lower back, wings, and tail are black barred with white, the 
tertiaries are tinged with brown and barred and tipped with 
buff. The abdomen is whitish, more or less streaked with 
brown, the vents and under tail coverts are white, the thighs 
have often a rufous tinge. 
Bill brown-black, pinkish at the base ; iris brown ; legs 
and feet lead colour. 
Length 11°5; wing 5:25; tail 3°75; tarsus -85; bill 
from gape 2°3. 
Distribution —Fairly common in the Northern Province, 
occasionally wandering as far south as Anuradhapura and 
Chilaw ; occurs in portions of the park country in the Eastern 
Province and on the Uva patanas, while it is by no means 
rare in the Hambantota District eastwards of Ranna. It is 
found all over India, except in Sind and the Western Punjab, 
and ranges through Burma to Siam, Indo-China, and Southern 
China. . 
Habits, &c.—This species is found chiefly in open country, 
grazing grounds, and patanas, and is generally seen on the 
ground searching for insects. The breeding season appears 
to last from November to April. The birds nest in holes in 
trees, banks, or walls. The nest chamber is usually very 
insanitary. The eggs, four to seven in number, are of a pale 
bluish- or greenish-white, and measure about *97 by °66. 
Order MACROCHIRES, 
Swifts, Nightjars, and Frogmouths. 
By Blanford the Swifts, Nightjars, and Frogmouths are 
grouped together in the above order, which also includes the 
Humming Birds, T'rochilide, and the Oil Birds, Steatornithide, 
two families, which are confined to the New World. All the 
members of the order have short bills with broad gapes, and 
live on insects captured while on the wing. 
