29 
leaf of the palm. Dr. Jerdon says that it “is common in all the 
districts of India, except on the bare table-land.”’ I have, however, 
never met with its nest or eggs. 
Genus Hirunpo. 
Hirvunpo FILIFERA, Stephens. 
This very handsome Swallow breeds in old temples and under 
projecting stones in wells and banks of streams. On 28th January 
1850, I found the nest of this species built in an old well under a large 
stone, near the water; the nest was not domed, but open, and the 
young ones, three in number, exposed to view. On Ist April 1851, 
I took an egg out of a nest of this Swallow; the nest contained 
three. The old birds began building about 15th March; the nest 
was composed of mud, lined with a few fibrous roots and feathers ; 
it was built under a stone in the bank of a stream. The egg is 
zoths of an inch in length, by rather more than ;5,ths in width ; 
white, spotted with two shades of red-brown, the spots forming a 
broken belt round the larger end. 
Order Rasores. 
Family Pavonipz&. 
Genus Pavo. 
Pavo cristatus. Common PEAFOWL. 
Peafowl abound in the jungles clothing the slopes of the Ghauts, 
and in some wooded districts in the interior. In the Deccan, in the 
wooded hilly portions of the districts of Jamkhair and Scogao they 
were plentiful, and a remarkably pretty sight it was to see them 
stalking about near the grain stacks, or running along the bushy 
banks of the nullahs. They are wary birds, and lead the sportsman 
a good chase when once they take to the low spurs of the hills, up 
which they run with incredible swiftness. The best plan to secure 
them is to wait for their roosting time, under the trees to which they 
resort. Thick mango trees appear to be their favourite resting-places. 
Peafowl breed at the end of the monsoon, in the months of September 
and October, laying, I am told, from three to five eggs, of a buffy 
white colour, 2 inches and nearly ;,ths in length, by 2 inches and 
nearly th in width. The nest is said to be composed of grass, and 
formed on the ground amongst bushes. 
Genus Gaus, Briss. 
Gauuius SonnERatiI, Temm. 
As I have not been fortunate enough to obtain the eggs of this 
jungle fowl, I have again recourse to my friend Dr. Jerdon’s notes. 
He says, “I once found the eggs of this fowl, seven in number, on 
