COR VUSC YPSEL US 427 



Rooks nest in colonies, often of large size, placing their nests 

 on tolerably high trees, and usually commence nidification in 

 March. The nest is bulky, constructed of sticks and lined 

 with fine root3, wool, straw, &c., and the eggs, 4 to 5 or 6 

 in number, resemble those of the Carrion Crow, but are as a 

 rule somewhat smaller, averaging about T52 by 1/12, and are 

 subject to considerable variation in colour and markings. 



609. EASTERN ROOK. 

 CORVUS PASTINATOR. 



Corvus pastinator, Gould, P.Z.S. 1845, p. 1 ; (David and Oust), p. 369 ; 

 (Sharpe), Cat. B. Br. Mus. iii. p. 10 ; (Tacz.), F. 0. Sib. 0. p. 537. 



ad. (Japan). Differs from C. frugileyus in having the Lead and neck 

 glossed with, purple and not with green, and in having only the space from 

 the base of the bill to the eye, and a small patch at the base of the lower 

 mandible bare. Culmen 1'85, wing 11 '75, tail 7 '2, tarsus 2'05 inch. 



Hob. Eastern Siberia, Kan-su, Mongolia, Corea, China, and 

 Japan. 



In habits and nidification it does not differ from C. frugilegus. 



CYPSELUS, Illig., 1811. 



610. SWIFT. 

 CYPSELUS APUS. 



Cypselus apus, (Linn.), Syst. Nat. i. p. 344 (1766) ; Nauru, vi. p. 123, 

 Taf. 147, fig. 2 ; Hewitson, i. p. 267, pi. Ixv. fig. 5 ; Gould, B. of Gt. 

 Brit. ii. pi. 3 ; Newton, ii. p. 364 ; Dresser, iv. p. 58, pi. 266 ; 

 (Hartert), Cat. B. Br. Mus. xvi. p. 442 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, 

 iii. p. 165 ; Saunders, p. 261 ; Lilford, ii. p. 38, pi. 16 ; C. murarius 

 (Meyer), Vog. Livl, &c. p. 143 (1815) ; Gould, B. of E. ii. p. 53. 



Martinet de muraille, French ; Andorinhao, Portug. ; Avion, 

 Falsia, Span. ; Eondone, Ital ; thurmsegler, Mauersegler, Germ. ; 

 Gierzwahiw, Dutch ; Muur-svale, Dan. ; Taarnsvale, Norw. ; 

 Tornsoala, Swed. ; NahJeasiipi, Liwiiapaasky , Tewapaasky , Finn. ; 

 StresTibaschinnoi, Russ. 



ad. (Sweden), Blackish brown, with a faint greenish gloss ; chin dull 

 white, with obsolete dark stripes ; bill and feet blackish ; iris dark brown. 

 Bill from gape 0'65, wing 6-5, tail 3'15, tarsus 0'55 inch. Sexes alike. The 

 young bird has the throat whiter, and most of the feathers are margined 

 with dull white. 



