Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. 405 



whole upper portion of the domed roof is thickly encrusted with 

 what I may term confluent nests of our common Swift [Cypselus 

 abyssinicus), a mass of feathers, straw, wool, and the like, 

 cemented together with inspissated saliva. All over the exterior 

 of the temple are little arched recesses sunk about eight inches 

 in the masonry; and in one of these, about five feet above the 

 plinth, one of my people discovered a female E. striolata sitting 

 on her nest. Going to the spot, I stood with my eyes within 

 two feet of the bird ; she, however, never moved, but sat calmly 

 gazing at me with her bright dark eye. She looked so nice 

 and sleek and cosy that I hesitated to disturb her ; but the eggs 

 of this species are almost, if not entirely, unknown in European 

 collections, and I thought it only right to secure all I could; so 

 I emptied a cap-box into my pocket, and had some soft rags 

 torn to shreds, and then put my hand out gently to the nest. 

 Away flitted the old bird, disclosing, alas ! three fluffy nestlings ; 

 I drew back my hand, and that very instant the female returned 

 and hid the chicks under her. They were very young, and the 

 morning air on this lone pinnacle was very cold; hence her 

 extraordinary tameness. 



The nest, built on the flat bottom of the niche, was perfectly 

 circular, with an external diameter at bottom of about 5*5 in., 

 and an internal at top of about 2*5. The lower portion was 

 composed of fine twigs, the upper portion and the lining of the 

 cavity, so far as the young ones allowed this to be seen, of fine 

 grass stems. Altogether the nest was about 2'5 in. high, and 

 very neat and symmetrical. 



Judging from my present experience, I should say that three 

 is the full number of eggs usually laid. 



I subjoin descriptions and exact dimensions taken from freshly 

 killed specimens. 



Dimensions. — Male. Length 5*75 to 5'97; expanse 9*37 to 

 9*75 ; tail from vent 2'45 to 2"75 ; wing from carpal joint to tip 

 of longest primary 2'96 to 3*1, and when closed reaching from 

 within 1*1 to 1"3 of the end of the tail; foot, greatest length 

 from 1 to 1"1, greatest width from "63 to '8; bill from front 

 "36 to '39; weight from "45 to "5 oz. (Seven males measured 

 and weighed.) 



