82 HIRUNDININJi:. 



spotted, blotched, or capped with pale yellowish or reddish-brown. 

 They average 076 in length by 0*53 in "breadth. 



GENUS, Cotyle, Soie. 



Bill weak, depressed, very broad at base, smaller than in 

 Hirundo, barely hooked at tip ; wings somewhat longer, first quill 

 longest, longer than the tail ; tail, even or slightly notched ; tarsus 

 slightly longer ; toes weaker, outer toe proportionally longer ; 

 claws lengthened ; plumage sombre, and barely glossed. 



Cotyle riparia, Lin. 



87. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 1 63 ; Butler, Deccan, 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 378 ; Guzerat, Vol. Ill, p. 432 ; 

 Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 103. 



THE EUROPEAN SAND MARTIN. 



Length, 475 ; wing, 4 ; tail, 2. 



Bill black ; legs and feet horny ; tarsus feathered on the back, 

 down to the hind-toe. 



Plumage above, and the breast, pale dusky greyish-brown ; 

 throat, belly, and under tail-coverts white ; the tail slightly 

 forked. 



The European Sand Martin has been very doubtfully recorded 

 from almost every part of the district. I have myself never met 

 with it. 



Cotyle sinensis, J. E. Or. 



89. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 164 ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray 

 Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 432 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, 

 p. 378 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 103 ; Swinhoe 

 and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 60. 



THE INDIAN SAND MARTIN. 



Length, 4 to 47 ; expanse, 9*8 to 1075 ; wing, 3;3 to 3'8 ; tail, 

 1-6 to 1-8 ; tarsus, 0'4 ; bill from gape, 0'42 to 0*47. 



Bill black ; gape pale fleshy ; irides dark-brown ; feet brownish 

 or dusky fleshy. 



Above earthy grey-brown, darker on the crown ; upper tail- 

 coverts somewhat albescent ; throat and breast pale-greyish ; crown, 

 wings and tail dusky-brown ; belly and lower tail-coverts white ; 

 tarsus not feathered, but with a small tuft. 



The young birds have a more or less rufous tinge. 



The Indian Sand Martin is common throughout the district, 

 and breeds in holes in banks of rivers, from November to Febru- 

 ary, and even later. The nest-holes vary from eighteen to thirty- 

 six inches in depth, according to the nature of the soil in which 

 they are excavated ; the nest is composed of fine grass, lined 

 with feathers ; the eggs, three in number, are pure white ovals, 

 measuring 0'68 inches in length by about 0'48 in breadth. 



