the Birds of Mauritius. 93 



shewing himself off witli a loud twitter, while puffing himself 

 out to a ridiculous degree. 



On the Trou aux Cerfs and at Curepipe in December 1910 

 I saw large flocks. 



I found nests and eggs at Curepipe in December and 

 January. The nest was about the size of a small Ostrich's 

 egg, with a hole in the side. The eggs were three or four in 

 number, in colour like those of the English Wheatear ; but 

 the size was somewhat smaller. 



23. Nesacanthis rubra. 



Nesacanthis rubra Sliarpe, Cat. Birds, xiii. p. 485. 



Zozo Banane or Oiseau Banane. 



This indigenous species is fast disappearing from 

 Mauritius and is now a rare bird even in the south-west of 

 the island. 



I saw five birds on Mount Cocotte in February 19] 1. In 

 all their movements they are very graceful. They have a 

 soft, sad little chirrup and are very tame, a trait characteristic 

 of an indigenous species and very different from theboisterous, 

 confident, but suspicious gait of Fuudia madaf/ascariensis. 



21. COLLOCALIA FRANCICA. 



Collocalin francica Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xvi. p. 503. 



La Salangane. 



Petite Hirondelle. 



This widely distributed Swift, occurring in Australia, New 

 Guinea, Fiji, Reunion, and Madagascar, is common in 

 suitable localities throughout the island. 



In the hills behind Port Louis and at Chamarel I found 

 numerous large colonies. They Avere breeding in December. 

 The nest is placed in the cleft of a rock, and though it is 

 cemented together by a gelatinous substance, I have never 

 heard of its being used as food. 



25. EURYSTOMUS GLAUCURUS. 



Eurijstomus fflaucurus Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xvii. p. 29. 



Le Rolle de Madagascar. 



Roller. 



This species is an accidental visitor from Madagascar. It 



