sometimes almost as strongly indicated as those of H. striolata, while the slightly 

 rufescent colouring of the under surface allies it to H. daurica. It can, indeed, only 

 be considered a small race of the latter species, though some examples are as pale below 

 as M. striolata. 



It w r as first discovered by Mr. Hodgson in Nepal. lie says that it is " the Swallow 

 of the Central Region, a household creature, remaining for seven or eight months in 

 the year." Dr. Scully also writes : — "This Swallow is even more common in the valley 

 of Nepal than H. rustica, and is much more familiar in its habits than that species, 

 constantly flying about houses and often entering into the room. It lives in the valley 

 for about eight months in the year, migrating to lower levels in winter. It was not 

 uncommon in the Nawakot district about the eud of November. 



" This species breeds in the valley from April to the end of July, some birds 

 certainly producing two broods in the season. The nests are made of pellets of fine 

 light-coloured clay, and are usually fixed between the rafters of verandahs or of rooms 

 which are little used. The shape of the nest is a rather irregular half-retort ; the 

 entrance being long and narrow. The usual number of eggs laid is four, and these rest 

 on a beautiful cushion of soft feathers — often those of the Ohikore, Black Partridge, and 

 Pigeon. The eggs are well known ; pure delicate white, in shape long oval, smaller at 

 one end." 



It likewise occurs throughout the Western Himalayas, though Mr. Brooks did not 

 observe it in Kashmir. At Murree it breeds, and, according to Colonel C. H. T. Marshall, 

 it is the " House-Swallow " of the place. He found eggs in June. Stoliczka found it at 

 Nachar in the Sutlej Valley, and Mr. Hume states that it is far from rare there. It 

 nested regularly at Rothney Castle, Mr. Hume's beautiful house at Simla ; and Captain 

 Beavan writes : — " Noticed at Simla about the end of April, now and then about the 

 house, as if in quest of a place to build in ; but apparently it does not build until much 

 later. I observed this species at Simla up to Sept. 15th, when I noticed that it was 

 almost the only species visible, and still common." 



Mr. Brooks records this Swallow as common both at Nynee Tal and Almora, as well 

 as at Binsur, which is twelve miles further north than Almora. Specimens from 

 Mussoorie are in the Hume collection, and Mr. Brooks records it as met with on the 

 march from Mussoorie to Gangaotri. Between Simla and Mussoorie, Colonel Tytler also 

 says that the species was common and at considerable heights. 



In the winter it is met with in the plains of India, and Mr. Hume's collection con- 

 tains specimens from Oudh and Etawah ; it has been met with as far south as Mam- 

 bhoom, where Captain Beavan found it " tolerably common." 



Mandelli procured the species in the Bhutan Dooars in April, and there are speci- 

 mens in the Hume collection from this locality, as well as others from Faridpur in 

 Eastern Bengal, obtained by Mr. J. B. Cripps, while Mr. Inglis procured it at Dilkusha 

 in Cachar. Colonel Godwin- Austen has specimens from the Dafla Hills. Mr. Hume 

 writes : — " Though not common, I met with this occasionally both in the hills and plains 



