on the Birds of South-Eastern China. 75 



At Hong Kong, altliougli the birds which breed locally leave 

 in August, an occasional flight has been seen in November, 

 and after a severe typhoon in September numbers were 

 observed flying aimlessly about tlie Naval Hospital. 



The usual clutch of eggs is five or occasionally six, and 

 they vary in length from '74 to "65 and in breadth from '54 

 to '49, and average '70 x '52. 



The eggs do not diff'er from those of the common European 

 Swallow in colour and markings. 



HiRUNDO STRIOLATA. 



The Mosque-Swallow is a very common summer visitor to 

 some parts of the West River, but in the eastern part is only 

 found breeding under the curiously carved eaves of the 

 temples of the monastery at Howlik at an elevation of 1500 

 feet above the sea. 



In Kwang Si Province, however, this species takes the 

 place of Hirundo gutturalis and breeds at lower levels. 



At Howlik it was observed that only about one bird in ten 

 made the retort-shaped nest, supposed to be so characteristic 

 of this species, and whilst some were quite open, like those 

 of the House-Swallow, others resembled those of the House- 

 Martin in being closed above. The nests are lined with 

 grass and a few feathers, but the first egg is often laid 

 on the clay of the outer wall and a lining added during 

 incubation. 



There are at Howlik small boards, placed under the birds' 

 nests, to prevent their droppings from falling on the monks 

 as they pass beneath. 



It is thought that sometimes pairing takes place inside the 

 nests, Avhich are very spacious. The monks consider these 

 birds to be sacred ; but although they protect them from the 

 Chinese, they made no attempt to do so from Europeans. 



The usual number of eggs is three or four, but occa- 

 sionally five are found. 



The eggs are white and without much gloss ; in some rare 

 cases a few faint reddish spots are to be noticed at the larger 

 end. The birds are double-brooded. 



