238 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
The plumage is more silky than in other Swifts, and differs 
slightly in the two sexes. The feathers of the crown are 
elongated into a crest, which is raised or depressed at will. 
MACROPTERYX CORONATA (Blanford, Vol. IIT., p. 180). 
DENDRO CHELIDON CORONATA (Legge, p. 328). 
The Indian Crested Swift. 
Description.—Male : Upper plumage with the sides of the 
neck bluish-gray ; the crest and upper wing coverts darker 
with a bluish-green gloss; wing and tail quills dark brown 
glossed with green ; lores velvet black, bordered above with 
a thin whitish stripe ; upper chin, moustache stripe, and 
ear coverts chestnut ; throat, breast, and sides of body light 
bluish-gray, passing gradually into the white of the abdomen 
and lower tail coverts. 
Females lack the chestnut patch on the face and throat ; 
the ear coverts are almost black, and are bordered below by a 
white stripe from the gape. 
Young birds have broad brownish-gray borders, edged with 
white, on the feathers of the upper parts, and dark brown 
bars near the tips of the feathers on the lower plumage. 
Bill black ; iris dark brown ; legs pinkish-brown. 
Length 9°5; wing 6°1; tail, outer feathers about 5, central 
about 1°75; tarsus *4; bill from gape °75. 
Distribution.—Fairly common all over the Island. Like 
most Swifts, the birds wander a good deal; in the northern 
half of the Island it is found chiefly round the large tanks. 
It occurs in the better wooded parts of India, and extends 
eastwards throughout Burma and Siam. 
Habits, &c.—Found generally in small parties round forest 
clearings or jungle tanks. It is extremely fond of perching 
on dead trees. When flying over water, it often dips to the 
surface and rises again. The breeding season is about May. 
The nest is a tiny, fragile, half saucer composed of flakes of 
bark cemented with saliva, and glued to the side of a bare 
horizontal branch generally at some height from the ground. 
A solitary grayish-white egg is laid, measuring about *85 
by °55. 
