4 



numerous dots and freckles of yellowisli brown and faint lilac sprinkled over tlie whole 

 surface, but more thickly at the larger end. The nests are 4 to 6 inches wide, by 2-5 

 iiiches deej). 



" Sometimes a band of this species and the Fairy Martin will take possession of the 

 ui)i)er story of some deserted house, the latter building their long flask-shaped nests in 

 clusters under the eaves, while the former enter at the windows and take possession of 

 the cross beams and rafters. I have seen both species breeding under the same roof at 

 the Glebe, Sydney. 



" In 1858, while fishing off a small steamer, which, having been out of use for some 

 months, was moored a few hundred yards from the north shore, in the Sydney harbour, 

 I observed a pair of these Swallows fly rouod the boat, and frequently dive underneath 

 the paddle-box. After a long search I discovered their nest, which w^as composed of 

 black pitchy mud, lined wdtli seaweed and feathers. It was placed upon one of the 

 horizontal beams of the paddle-box, and contained three young ones, about half -fledged. 

 The man in charge informed me that the nest had been made when the steamer was 

 lying lower down the harbour, and upon its being tugged to where it then lay the birds 

 flew round and round it the whole time, evidently in a great state of excitement. 



" Several pairs have for some time past taken possession of an old bathing-house at 

 Dobroyde, where every year they build on the lower beams, within a few inches of high- 

 water mark : these nests are always composed of black pitchy mud, mixed with seaweed, 

 obtained, I have no doubt, from the flats at low tide ; the lining consists of soft dry 

 pieces of bleached seaweed." 



The description is from the British Museum ' Catalogue,' and the figure in the Plate 

 has been drawn from a specimen in Mr. Seebohm's collection. 



