COLLOCALIA. 177 



obtained in the Western Himalayas. Not known elsewhere 

 within our area, but widely distributed in the Malay Archipelago, 

 Papuasia, and the Philippines. 



Habits, $c. Those of the genus. The nests, found in caves in the 

 Ceylon, Nilgiri, Palni, and Travancore hills, and on Vingorla 

 Kocks, Pigeon Island, and other islets off the Malabar coast, are 

 small shallow cups made of grass, moss, and feathers cemented 

 together by inspissated saliva. They always contain extraneous 

 materials and are never pure white. The breeding-season on the 

 hills is from March to June, but on the coast rather earlier. The 

 eggs, two in number, measure on an average *83 by *54. 



1082. Collocalia brevirostris. The Himalayan Swiftlet. 



Hirundo brevirostris, McClelland, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 155. 



Collocalia nidifica, Jerdon, B. I. \, p. 182, pt. ; Brooks, S. F. iii, p. 232. 



Collocalia fuciphaga, apud Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2, p. 44; nee 



Thunb. 

 Collocalia brevirostris, Hume, S. F. iii, p. 232 ; ix, p. 290 ; xi, p. 32 ; 



Hartert (C. fuciphagae subsp.), Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 501. 

 Collocalia unicolor, apud Scully, S. F. viii, p. 235 ; nee Jerdon. 



Coloration. Almost identical with that of C. fuciphaga, but the 

 upper parts are a little darker in general, whilst the rump is 

 slightly but distinctly paler than the back. Tarsi always feathered 

 in front. 



Bill black ; irides dark brown ; tarsi and toes brownish fleshy 

 (Hume). 



Length about 5-4 ; tail 2-2 ; wing 5 ; tarsus -4. The outer tail- 

 feathers exceed the middle pair by '25 to *4 inch. 



Distribution. Throughout the Himalayas as far west as Dal- 

 housie, up to considerable elevations (I have seen this species at 

 12,000 feet in Sikhim), also in Assam and Manipur. 



Habits, <$fc. Those of the genus. Nidification unknown. 



1083. Collocalia innominata. Hume's Swiftlet. 



Collocalia innominata, Hume, S. F. i, p. 294 (1873) ; ii, pp. 160, 

 493 ; ix, p. 1 12 ; id. Cat. no. 103 ter ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 49 ; 

 Gates, B. B. ii, p. 7 ; Hartert, Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 503. 



Collocalia maxima, Hume, S. F. iv, p. 223 (descr. nulla). 



Coloration. Upper parts blackish brown; crown and nape 

 darker, sometimes forming a distinct cap ; wings and tail black 

 with purplish or greenish gloss ; rump pale greyish brown, with 

 dark shafts ; lower parts greyish brown, the feathers dark-shafted. 



Tarsi feathered in front throughout ; bill and feet black ; legs 

 blackish brown (Davison). 



Length 5-25 ; tail 2'2 ; wing 5*3 ; tarsus -46. 



Distribution. Southern Tenasserim and the Andaman Islands. 

 A skin has also been obtained at Selangore in the Malay Peninsula. 

 The nidification is unknown. 



VOL. III. S 



