AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 383 



30.— Athene radiata, Tickell (77.) 



The Jungle Owlet is not uncommon, but by no means so 

 abundant as the preceding species. 



31.— Ninox hirsuta, Temm. (81.) 



There appear to be no constant characters which would serve to 

 distinguish the Indian Hawk-Owl {=lugubris, Tickell, scutellatus, 

 Raffl. apud Jerdon) in all cases from hirsuta, Temm. At one 

 time I supposed that the greater size and less amount of 

 rufous coloration were the distinguishing characters of the 

 Indian bird, but having seen a number of specimens from various 

 localities, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible 

 to draw anything approaching to a hard and fast line separating 

 the supposed species. In Chota Nagpur this bird is not 

 common. I only obtained one specimen, which I shot near 

 Ranchi, and have seldom heard it. Colonel Tickell also only 

 obtained one specimen in Dhalbhum, from which he described 

 it under the name lugubris. 



HIRUNDINID.E. 



32.— Hirundo rustica, Z. (82.) 



The Common Swallow is found in all the open parts of the 

 Division. Captain Beavan remarks that they disappear from 

 Manbhuni by the end of February. 



33.— Uromitis filifiera, Steph. (84.) 



The Wire-tailed Swallow is not unfrequently met with in Chota 

 Nagpur, especially in the vicinity of some of the larger rivers. 



34.— Lillia daurica, Lin. (85.) 



The Red-rumped Swallow is sometimes seen in vast flocks and 

 not unfrequently resting on freshly-ploughed land. Sometimes 

 it is seen in company with H. rustica. I remember once seeing 

 a very large number of swallows, in which both species could 

 be readily distinguished, seated on the telegraph wires on the 

 Grand Trunk Road. 



I have on several occasions been much struck when watching 

 flocks of these birds — which contained many thousands— to 

 observe the peculiar spontaneous movements^ which suddenly 

 actuate every individual. 



The effect produced can only be compared to that which the 

 abrupt rising of an eddy would have on a column of smoke 

 which was gently traversing a hitherto tranquil atmosphere. 

 'Tis as though some invisible hand suddenly dashed them aside 



