16 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 
impossible. They probably breed in company against precipitous 
rocks. 
Swifts, (Cypselus.)—The breeding of the larger swifts is 
difficult to ascertain from the same reason asin the case of the spine 
tails. They fly with great ease and swiftness, and though not, as far as 
is known, migratory ; in the true sense of the word, they wander far and 
come and go irregularly. The palm swifts are much more local and do 
not wander far from their breeding haunts. The eggs of all swifts are 
pure white and very elongated. They are all more or less gregarious 
breeders. 
Swiftlets, (Col/ocalia.)—Three kinds of swiftlets breed in 
India. They are gregarious, with great powers of flight, and wander far. 
They breed on rocks. Some of the species make the “ edible nests” so 
highly valued by the Chinese. Their eggs like those of the swifts are 
pure white and very elongated. 
Tree swifts, ( Dendrocheledon ).—Only one species is found in 
Todia, and that confined to forests and very local. The egg (only one is 
laid) is pure white and elongated. 
Frogmouths, (Otothrie, Batrachostomus).—Are confined to 
forests and very local, little is known of them. They probably breed in 
holes or on stumps and lay white eggs. 
Goatsuckers, (Caprimulgus.)—These birds are widely 
spread, but each species is comparatively local. They are crepuscular in 
their habits, and frequent wooded or waste jungly land. They are per- 
manent residents wherever found, and lay two elongated eggs, beauti- 
fully marked with pink or brown and salmon colour, on the bare ground 
or on a few dead leaves. They lie exceedingly close, not rising till they 
catch your eye. The beds of shady nullahs, ravines, at roots of trees, 
or in dense underwood, are the spots where they usually deposit their 
eggs, but they are sometimes laid by a sprig in an open field ; and to find 
them careful and persevering search is necessary. Of C. macrourus and 
C. mahrattensis, the eggs have not yet been found. Though not gre- 
garious, one or two nests may sometimes be found very near each 
other. 
Trogons, (Zarpactes ).—Are not migratory. They frequent dense 
forests and lay pure white eggs in holes in decayed trees. Only two kinds 
are found in India, and they are very local, 
Beeeaters,  (Merops, Nyctiornis),—Are found all over India. 
