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suring a quarter of an inch longer than the middle ones. Wing 5} 
inches ; tail 24th. General colour much blacker than in C. afinis, 
the upper and lower tail-covers being quite black; the white band 
on the rump is narrower and less purely white ; and the white of 
the throat is also less pure.” 
“The nidification is also remarkably different,” says Mr. Blyth ; 
‘several pairs inhabiting a continuous common nest, which is 
affixed to an eave in the manner of that of Chelidon urbica, or of 
Cyp. affinis; the latter species, however (so far as we have ob- 
served), so placing its nest as to be concealed, or at least rendered 
inconspicuous by a rafter or other object in front.’” According to the 
account received’ from Col. Low, a colony of Cyp. subfurcatus inha- 
bited the verandah of a house in the island of Pinang. ‘“‘ They 
began with a pair, and now compose a harmonious family of about 
sixteen or eighteen. The nests are fastened to the beam much in 
the same way as the nest of the swallow (Chelidon urbica *), but their 
nidificatery habits differ from those of the latter birds by their run- 
ning two, three, or more nests into one. There were about six or 
eight birds in one specimen of the nest, which had three apertures. 
They seem to keep a regular watch at night, for on the least noise 
the sentinel pipes a little, and is then followed by all the rest. They 
lay two eggs, and are not migratory,—at least my friends are not, 
for they have been domiciled upwards of a year where they are now. 
The nest above noticed is a beautiful fabric in its way, remarkably 
light and compact ; being composed of feathers and other light sub- 
stances firmly bound together by a good deal of the saliva-like 
gluten. Several shed primaries and other feathers of the birds 
themselves, doubtless cast within the nest, are thus fastened in to add 
to the lining. The only aperture visible, now that the nest has been 
cut away from its place of attachment, is a somewhat prolonged 
entrance at one extremity; and there appear to be but two de- 
pressions adapted for the reception of eggs, which renders it probable 
that several of its inhabitants were the young of a former brood, or 
perhaps broods. The total length of the interior is 12 inches, by 
nearly 5 inches where broadest ; and this capacity would indicate 
that it is intended as much for a habitation for a number of the birds 
as for the ordinary purpose of incubation. Procuring some nests of 
Cyp. affinis for comparison, the size of these also indicates the fact 
that they are similarly inhabited ; but it would appear that there is 
no convenience in them for more than one pair of birds to incubate. 
They consist of a much thicker and heavier mass of material than 
the nest of C. subfurcatus ; but where two are built in contact, the 
wall of separation is thin, though we suspect it will be always found 
intact and completely separated. During the night C. affinis is 
equally vigilant with its Malayan representative. The latter would 
appear to be the common house Swift of the Malayan peninsula, 
taking the place of C. afinis of India; while C. vittatus would seem 
to be exclusively a mountain species, and which has been obtained 
by Capt. Hutton from the Tyne range of mountains near Simla.” 
Common at Pinang.—Cantor. 
