1IIBT7NDO. 199 



rumped Swallow breeds in the neighbourhood of Deesa in June 

 and July. The nest is usually stuck to the roof of caves or holes 

 in rocks, and, like that of other Swallows, is built of mud exter- 

 nally, and lined with dry grass and feathers. It is of a peculiar 

 form, being completely closed up, of an oval shape, terminating at 

 one end with a tubular passage about 7 or 8 inches long, by which 

 the birds enter. During the period of incubation, the female sits 

 very closely, suffering a great noise to be made without flying off 

 the nest. It is not uncommon to find both birds in the nest 

 during the time the hen is sitting. I have taken nests in April at 

 Mount Aboo, but these were exceptionable instances, as they do 

 not as r ule commence buildiug before the middle or end of May. 

 In the plains they often build under bridges, archways, across 

 nullah culverts, &c." 



Mr. Benjamin Aitken mentions that " Between the 20th and 

 31st May, 1871, Jerdon's Eed-rumped Swallow was observed to 

 be in possession of nests, in similar places to those of Cotyle con- 

 color, at Khaudalla, a hill-station on the top of the Bhore G-hat." 



Mr. G. Vidal notes from the South Konkaii : " Common and 

 generally distributed. Breeds in the hot weather on the cliffs and 

 under eaves of houses." 



Mr. James Aitken says : " This is one of those birds which 

 seem highly to appreciate the advantages of civilization, and to 

 think, like Cowper's cat, that men take a great deal of trouble to 

 please them. In Berar they have almost discarded the mosques 

 which gave them their name, and have betaken themselves to the 

 culverts of the roads, which are now being constructed all over the 

 country. Wherever a road is made some of the culverts are sure 

 to be taken possession of, as soon as the rains commence, by pairs 

 of these Swallows, which may be seen darting in at one end and 

 out at the other, or hawking about for flies over the pools of water 

 at the road-side ; their flight has, however, nothing of the extreme 

 rapidity of that of the Swifts or Wire-tailed Swallows. During 

 the cold season the young often assemble in large flocks, but these 

 all disperse, or perhaps migrate, as the weather gets warmer, and 

 only a few pairs remain to breed during the monsoon. The nest 

 is of mud, with a prolonged entrance running along the wall, and 

 is lined with coarse grass and feathers. The eggs are long shaped 

 and pure white, without spot of any kind. In the subterraneous 

 situation in which the nest is so often placed, and with the air 

 still further excluded by the long neck, it is a marvel how the 

 young escape suffocation." 



Mr. Davison remarks : " This species breeds on the Nilghiris 

 about the commencement of April. The nest, as usual with 

 Swallows, is composed externally of mud, and thickly lined with 

 feathers ; it is shaped like the half of a Florence flask. It is 

 placed generally against the roof of a cave or overhanging rock. 

 The eggs are generally three in number, pure white, and of rather 

 an elongated form. Several nests are often placed close together, 



