154 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF INDIA. 



These specimens are older than that originally described; 

 the whole plumage, above and below including the tarsal plumes, 

 and wing lining, are a rich deep chocolate brown, somewhat more 

 rufescent on the abdomen ; the tail exhibits four narrow trans- 

 verse bars of a paler and more earthy brown, and has the 

 feathers very narrowly tipped with whity brown, while the 

 under-tail coverts are broadly, but irregularly, barred with 

 somewhat brownish white. 



We never met with this species. Davison remarks : — "I secured 

 only two specimens of this bird, both at Port Mouat, South Anda- 

 mans. I regret to say that I know T next to nothing about the 

 habits of this bird. The first specimen I saw flit by me, and 

 settle in a small tree that grew close to the water's edge, this was 

 on the 14th April. The next evening about 9 p.m. I heard an 

 owl hooting close to the bungalow ; on going out I saw the second 

 bird which I secured sitting on an old stump that stood out against 

 the sky ; it rose as I approached, took a long sailing circular 

 flicrht of several hundred yards, and returned to its perch and 

 recommenced hooting. 



" The hoot is a peculiar one, quite unlike the. note attributed 

 to our common Indian Hawk Owl. It is a low, subdued but clear 

 double note, and having shot the bird immediately after hearing 

 it hoot, there can be no doubt of the fact. 



"Although I procured only two specimens, the bird is, I am 

 sure, common both at the Andamans and Nicobars. Night after 

 nio-ht in both groups I used to hear the same hoot, but though 

 1 often tried after them I never again obtained a shot at one." 



82.— Hirundo rastica, Lin. (12.) 



The Andaman birds appear to me to be precisely similar not 

 only to birds from all parts of India and the Himalayas, but 

 also to English specimens. 



In this species there is very considerable difference in 

 individuals, in the size of bill and wing, and in the tint of color 

 of the lower surface ; but this appears to me to be due to age 

 and sex, and not to be contingent on locality. I do not at all my- 

 self believe that this species breeds in the Andamans or Nicobars ; 

 all the twelve specimens we preserved are apparently birds of the 

 year. The young birds often migrate further than the adults, 

 which will account of this fact. I have seen no sufficient reason 

 as yet for separating gutturalis, Scopoli, as distinct. 



Mr. Davison says : — " This bird is common both at the Anda- 

 mans and Nicobars ; during the day it may be found 

 hawking slowly about some shady spot, or sitting, several 



