The Insectivorous Birds of N.S. W. 



4. Ch^tttba catjd acuta, Latham " Spine-tailed Swift." 

 Acanthylis caudacuta, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 10 (1848). 

 A migratory species, flocks of which arrive in New South "Wales during 

 the hottest months of the year. Like the following species, it passes the 

 whole of the day on the wing. Breeds in northern China. 



5. Ctpselus pacifictts, Latham. " White-rumped Swift." 



Oypselus australis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ii, pi. 11 (1848). 



A summer visitant to Australia, arriving about the same time and fre- 

 quently seen in company with the above species , It breeds in southern 

 Siberia. Large numbers of these birds appeared in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney during the unusually hot weather of "January, 1896. 



6. Hibttndo neoxena, Gould. " Common House Swallow," " "Welcome 



Swallow." 



Hirundo neoxena, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. n, pi. 13 (1848); 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 30 (1889). 



This common and well-known species arrives in large numbers in New 

 South "Wales during the month of July, and takes its departure again about 

 the end of May. A few straggling pairs, however, remain in the localities 

 they once were plentiful throughout the winter. "When frequenting our 

 cities and towns the nest of this Swallow is placed upon any narrow ledge of 

 woodwork or masonry, but usually a site is chosen that is protected by a 

 verandah. In the country districts it is more often built about stables and 

 outbuildings, while on the rocky portions of our coast its nest is placed upon 

 the cliffs. Eggs, four or five in number, white, sprinkled with yellowish and 

 reddish brown markings, and underlying freckles of bluish-grey ; length, 

 0-74x0-58 inch. 



7. Lagenoplastes abiel, Gould. " Eairy Martin," " Bottle Swallow." 



Collocalia ariel, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. n, pi. 15 (1848) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 32 (1889). 



A migratory species arriving in New South Wales in July. It breeds 

 in communities, building retort-shaped nests of mud under the eaves of 

 houses, the shelter of an overhanging rock or river-bank, and occasionally in 

 the hollow trunk of some large tree. Hundreds of the nests of this 

 species may be seen underneath the capping of the stone piers of the railway 

 bridge that crosses the Nepean Biver at Penrith. "With but few exceptions, 

 these birds take their departure at the end of April. Eggs usually five in 

 number for a sitting, some being pure white, others marked with yellowish- 

 brown spots on the larger end ; length, 073 x 0*48 inch. 



8. Peteocheltdok nigbicans, Vieillot. "Tree Swallow." 



Collocalia arlorea, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. ir, pi. 14 (1848). 

 Petroehelidon nigricans, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds, p. 32, pi. xill, 



fig. 14 (1889). 



Although migratory, a few stragglers remain throughout the year. Breeds 

 in September and October, depositing its eggs, three or four in number, on 

 the decaying wood or dust in the hollow branch of a tree ; they are fleshy- 

 white with a zone of minute freckles of light rusty-brown and greyish-lilac 

 on the larger end, others are uniformly marked over the entire surface of 

 the shell ; length, 073 x 0*55 inch. Elocks of these birds seen at Ashfield, 

 June 21st, 1896. 



