236 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Rough Key to Species of Cheturine. 
A.—Size large ; wing 8; tail nearly square ; shafts of tail 
feathers ending in spines. 
Chetura indica (Brown-necked Spinetail). 
B.—Size small ; wing 4°6; tarsi naked ; tail slightly forked ; 
tail feathers normal ; hind toe directed backwards, 
and only partially reversible. 
Collocalia unicolor (Indian Edible-nest Swiftlet). 
CHa&TURA INDICA (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 173). 
CHHTURA GIGANTEA (Legge, p. 314). 
The Brown-necked Spinetail. 
Description.—The crown, the sides of the head, the nape, 
wings, the sides of the rump, upper tail coverts, and tail 
black, with a metallic gloss of green and steel blue; the back, 
scapulars, and rump pale brown, palest on the centre of the 
back. A deep velvet black spot in front of each eye, and a 
white spot on each side of the forehead bordering the upper 
mandible ; chin and centre of throat whitish ; lower parts 
umber-brown with a faint gloss; under tail coverts and a 
streak along the flank white. 
Bill black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet fleshy purple. 
Length 9; wing 8; tail 2°7; tarsus °65; bill from 
gape I. 
Distribution.—Resident in the hills, occasionally wandering 
over the whole Island. It occurs in Southern India, and also 
ranges from Assam eastwards throughout Burma. 
Habits, &c.—This species may be seen wheeling at enormous 
speed round hillsides. Often after rain it wanders far over 
the low-country in the course of a day’s flight. ‘The nesting 
habits are peculiar. It has been found breeding in March and 
April on the Travancore hills inside green trees, of which the 
core is hollow down to the ground. The nest is a mere 
depression in the earth at the foot of the hollow core, and is 
lined with dry leaves and straw. The eggs, three to five in 
number, are pure white, and measure about 1°28 by 1. The 
shell is hard, and like porcelain in texture. 
