306 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



' Animal Kingdom,' vii. 67 (nee H.fancica vera). Ahaclil, Hind. — 

 Remarkable for its shortish, even tail, the feathers of which are 

 not pointed (as in the various preceding species). Length 5f in., 

 by 12 in. ; wing 5 in. ; tail If in. Colour brown-black, blackest 

 on the back ; with a white throat and rump ; head brownish, 

 palest on forehead. Irides deep brown. 



The common urban and village Swift of India generally, 

 resident throughout the year; and though not generally a moun- 

 tain bird, the C. montanus, Jerdon, inhabiting cliffs in the Nilgiris, 

 appears to us to be perfectly identical ; and Mr. Jerdon remarks 

 of G. ajinis that on the west coast he saw it "upon several 

 occasions, chiefly among rocky hills, but only observed it twice or 

 thrice throughout the whole length of the table-land from the 

 Tapoor Pass to Jaulnah, and then but few in number. At this 

 latter place, however, it is very common." In the Deccan it is 

 so rare that Col. Sykes obtained only two specimens. Yet, 

 observes Mr. Jerdon, " it is found in all districts of India, but in 

 these is often confined to a small tract in the neighbourhood of 

 some few large pagodas, large old choultries, and other similar 

 buildings. In the Carnatic it is common in Madras, at the rocky 

 foot of Trichinopoly, and very numerous at the large pagodas at 

 Madura, among which their nests are thickly crowded. It seldom, 

 I think, takes a very long range from its breeding-place. During 

 the night they roost in their nests, four or five often occupying 

 the same one, as I observed in the celebrated choultry at Ajunta. 

 It builds its nest in company always, often thickly crowded 

 together, placing them in corners or crevices of old buildings." 

 In Bengal they are often placed in a low porch or verandah, even 

 in the most crowded thoroughfares of towns, the birds passing to 

 and fro, twittering loudly, and regardless of the throng beneath. 

 Capt. Tickell correctly describes the nests as " large, flat, 

 irregular, of fine straw, hay, and feathers, closely interwoven and 

 kept together with the glutinous substance supplied from the 

 bird's salivary [proventricular] glands, generally glued against 

 some beam in a verandah or outhouse. Eggs three, of a length- 

 ened shape, spotless white. July." Mr. Hodgson terms this 

 " the common Swift of the central region of Nepal, building 

 under thatched roofs, and against the beams of flat roofs." It 

 very commonly enters rooms through open windows, and flying 

 to and fro near the ceiling finds much difficulty in escaping by the 



