346 NOTES ON SOME BIRDS COLLECTED ON THE NILGHIRIS 
building a retort-shaped nest. They generally, though not 
always, breed several together, and sometimes three or four 
nests are joined together. The male often continues to lengthen 
the entrance after the female is sitting. I once found a nest 
of this species with the entrance walled up with pellets of clay, 
and on opening the nest I found a swallow dead and quite 
dried up in the tubular neck of the nest. Jerdon says: “ The 
eggs are white, faintly marked with rusty coloured spots.” 
This is the exception, not the rule. As a rule, the eggs are pure, 
spotless white. The species is common, not only on the 
Nilghiris and its slopes, but occurs commonly throngh the 
Wyn naad and the Mysore country abutting on the Nilghiris. 
The following are the dimensions taken in the flesh of a male :— 
Length, 6-5; expanse, 12:25; tail, 3°05; wing, 4:45; tarsus, 
0°55 ; bill from gape, 0°5. 
90. —Ptyonoprogne concolor, Sykes. The Dusky 
Martin. 
Not uncommon during the cold weather on the Nilghiris 
and slopes, but very few apparently remain to breed. It is s only 
found about rocky places, or in theirimmediate vicinity. It 
occurs from the level of the plains to as high up as Qotaca- 
mund. The following are the dimensions of a male taken in 
the fiesh :—Length, 5:0; expanse, 11°4; tail, 2°0; wing, 4:3; 
tarsus, 0°35; bill from gape, 0°5. Bill and claws black ; legs and 
feet pale fleshy brown. 
91.—Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Scop. The Moun- 
tain Martin. 
A cold-weather visitant only, and never very numerous. 
Ihave observed it only in the immediate vicinity of Ootaca- 
mund, and always abont rocky cliffs. By the end of March 
all have apparently departed. The following are the dimensions 
of amale taken in the flesh :—Length, 5°9; expanse, 13°5; 
tail. 2°3; wing, 4:9; tarsus, 0°45; bill from gape, 0°55 ; weight, 
0°62 oz. 
92.—Chelidon urbica, Zin. ‘The House Martin. 
Only once have I met with this species, and that was some 
years ago I came across a small party flying about near a 
steep cutting on the old road between Ootacamund and 
Coonoor. 
95.—Chetura sylvatica, Zick. The Forest Spine- 
tail. 
I came across a party of these Swifts hawking over a stream 
of water in the Peria Forests of Wynaad. 1 obtained one 
