A CONTRIBUTION TO THE OBNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 235 



from gape, 0'69 to 0-75; bill at front, 0-25 to 0-26 ^ closed 

 wmgs beyond tip of tail, 1-2 to 1-4. 



Three specimens, not sexed.—hewgthy 5*0 to 5-3; expanse, 

 12-6 to 13 ; wing, 5-1 to 5-2 ; tail, 1-9 to 21 ; tarsus, 035 to 

 0-4 ; bill from gape, 0-7 to 0-72 ; bill at front, 0*25 to 0-28 ; 

 closed wings reach beyond end of tail, 1-2 to 1-35. 



Bill black ; irides dark brown ; lower eyelid leaden or 

 purplish slaty ; feet dusky ; the ends of the toes black ; claws 

 brownish black or black. 



A young bird, with pale edges to the coverts, 9ih September. 



Length, 4-9; expanse, 12'25; wing, 4-8 ; tail, 2'0 ; tarsus, 

 0-35; bill from gape, 0'7 ; bill at front, 0-26 ; closed win^s 

 beyond tail, 1-4. 



Bill black ; irides blackish brown ; feet fleshy ; claws black, 

 pale at the tips. 



The Common Indian S^vift is very abundant in the valley 

 of Nepal during about eight months of the year, but 

 migrates to warmer regions in winter. It arrives in the 

 valley about the first week in March, and by the 10th of that 

 month It IS found in swarms near all the towns and villages. 

 It was noticed in the Nawakot district about the end" of 

 November. 



The breeding season seems to last from April to July; 

 and, as a rule, some dozens of nests will be found close 

 together under the eaves of houses and between the rafters of 

 covered passages and verandahs ; but on two occasions solitary 

 nests were found. The nest and eggs of these species are 

 well-known. 



103.— CoUocalia unicolor, Jerdon. 



Two specimens, Valley, 20ih Augiist.-^Leugth, 5*0 to 5'1 ; 

 expanse, 11-75; wing, 5-0; tail, 2-3 to 2*33 ; tarsus, 04 ; bill 

 from gape, 0-5 ; bill at front, 0-22 ; closed wings beyond end 

 of tail, 1-34 to 1-4. * ^ 



Bill black ; irides dark brown ; tarsi livid fleshy ; toes dusky ; 

 claws black. 



I have compared the above two specimens with an example 

 from Coonoor, Nilgiri Hills, and the skins correspond so closely 

 that they cannot possibly be separated. A specimen from 

 Sikim, in Mr. Hume's museum, is much darker on the lower 

 surface than my Nepal birds. 



This species was common on the hills round the Nepal Valley 

 in August and September, at elevations of about 6,000 feet 

 and upwards. It flies with great speed, and appears to be a 

 very silent bird. 



