some instances the form of a zone at the larger end ; they are from eight to nine lines 

 long by sis lines broad. At Swan lliver the breeding-season is in September and 

 October. In the spring of 1S62 two nests of this species were sent to me by George 

 French Angas, Esq. These very closely resembled those of our own bird, both in form 

 and materials ; they were, however, somewhat more square and more stoutly built. The 

 interior was composed of the usual plastered mud strengthened with a little liair, and 

 thickly lined with the downy feathers of various domestic birds. These nests are now 

 in the British Museum. The following note by Mr. Angas Avas attached to one of 

 them : — ' Built on a rafter of my stable at Collingrove, South Australia : taken Oct. 3, 

 1861.' " 



Mr. E. Pierson Ptamsay has published the following account of the species in the 

 neighbourhood of Sydney : — 



" Although the present species is strictly migratory, yet it is no easy task to deter- 

 mine the exact date of its arrival or departure, owing to the number of stragglers whicli 

 remain with us during the whole of the year. 



" I believe, however, that the visitants arrive early in July, or perhaps late in Jime, 

 and leave us again in the end of January and February. After their arrival, and again 

 just before their departure, they may be seen in great numbers Hying to and fro over 

 the fields, and often skimming the water-holes and lagoons, but keeping very high, 

 sometimes almost out of sight, during the middle of the day. 



" I have frequently obsej'ved them, in company with the Fairy Martin {Petrochclidoii 

 ciriel) flying over the lawn of the inner domain in Sydney. Tree-Swallows {Pelrocl/clidoii, 

 Difjricans) also accompany this species in search of food. We met with all three species 

 mixed up in one immense flock, during December 1864, at Lake Bathurst ; here they 

 were following in our wake as we walked through the rushes on a small island, obtaining 

 a rich feast on the small LihellulcB which flew up in countless numbers at every step we 

 took. The pupa-cases of these insects were lying piled up between the rushes to the 

 height of two, and even three feet, while the edges of the island at dusk were alive Avith 

 the pupae crawling out of the w aler. 



" The proper breeding-season of Hirundo neoxena is during the months of August 

 and throughout to the end of December ; stragglers, however, may be found l)reoding 

 almost at any time. I have found them building in the Dobroyde stables, both in the 

 months of February and June; and on April ITtb, 1861, I took a nest with fresh eggs 

 from the same buildings. 



" In choosing a site for the nest they seem to be li'ss particular tlian in their lime 

 for l)reeding. Abnost any building Avill serve tliem wIutc tht>_v can oljlaiii a hori/.onlal 

 beam or hMl^v. On tliis they place tlieir round liowl-shaped nest, tlie wall of which is 

 composed of pellets of mud, mingled Avitli grass, and securely fastened on llu' lic-am. 

 As soon as the mudwork is dry, it is warmly lined with grasses, horscliair, or IV;illitn-s ; 

 and the nest is then ready for the eggs, wliicli are usually IVoni llir.'c lo li\.' m nnnilicr, 

 •73 inch in length, by -5 in breadth. The ground-eulonr is of a ilelicalc while-, having 



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