2 



Adult female. Does not differ from the male in colour. Total length 7 inches, wing 5'1, tail 3-67, 

 tarsus 0'65. 



Hab. From Java and Flores, north to the Burmese countries, Southern China and Formosa. 



This species is as large as R. daurica, having the wing from 4 - 65 to 53 inches, but it is 

 much whiter below, more coarsely streaked, and has distinct black shaft-lines to the 

 rufous feathers of the lower back and rump. It was originally described from Java, 

 where we suspected that it would be only a winter visitant, but Dr. Vorderman states 

 that it breeds at Batavia. Mr. Wallace also procured the species in the island of Flores. 

 During the Steere Expedition to the Philippines, Mr. Moseley shot two specimens in the 

 islands of Luzon and Masbate at the end of April. Our next habitat for the species is 

 the island of Formosa, where, according to Mr. Swinhoe, it abounds in every homestead. 



The species is doubtless found throughout Southern China, and it possibly migrates 

 to Assam, as Mr. J. R. Oripps procured a specimen at Dibrughur in November. Two 

 examples were procured in the Karen Hills in January, by Major Wardlaw Ramsay, at 

 a height of 3000 feet, and the same naturalist also obtained a specimen at Karen-nee on 

 the 29th of March, at a height of 2G00 feet. 



Swinhoe thus describes the nesting of the species in Formosa : — 



" On taking possession of our native house at Tamsuy, I observed a nest of this 

 Swallow under the rafters in the central hall. It was exteriorly built of specks of mud, 

 like the nests of the Martin, but had a neck-like entrance, giving the whole the form of 

 a French flask, flattened against the roof; the inside was lined amply with feathers'. 

 Pallas's figure gives a very good idea of its structure. The mouth, however, does not 

 always point upwards, but is adapted in form and direction to the shape of the spot 

 against which it is placed. At the close of March the pair to which the nest belonged 

 returned, and in April began to repair the old nest. Towards the close of this month 

 the female was sitting on three white, unspotted eggs. The male and female share 

 the duties of incubation, the female usually taking the longest spell. For the sake of 

 science, we let the birds have their own way, though they made a great mess about our 

 small house, and nearly drove us wild with their loud discordant twittering. 



" In a ramble one spring morning, at dawn, I saw large numbers of these Swallows 

 perching on some high bamboos. The sun was fast dispelling the thick night-fog that 

 still bung low and heavy, and the birds seemed in high spirits at the return of fine 

 weather. They fluttered from branch to branch, and as they regained a footing, rocked 

 backwards and forwards before recovering their balance. It was in April, and they 

 were all paired, the male being always distinguishable by his larger size and longer 

 tail. In pairs they sang, or rather twittered, their notes kee-wee-kee, like sounds that 

 might be produced by some metal instrument sadly out of tune. The male loudly 

 sang his bar, and the female followed in a lower key. The male then fluttered his 

 wings and began again; the female followed suit. In this way the whole clump 



