the nest, more especially at the mouth, where strength is required to resist the constant 

 ahrasion that would otherwise ensue from the frequent entrance and exit of the bird. 

 Generally speaking, this chalky cement is applied to any part that may from circum- 

 stances appear to require strengthening, as it likewise gives consistency to the mud. 

 Sometimes, if the situation affords sufficient room, the long neck projects in a straight 

 line from the body of the nest, hut where the space is confined, or an obstacle interposes, 

 the neck is turned off at an angle, and in such cases there is pretty sure to be a layer of 

 the chalky cement at the point of deviation from the previous direction. When, how- 

 ever, the material is of a sufficient consistency to be adhesive without the cement, none 

 is applied. In the construction of the nest the mud is laid on in small rounded lumps, 

 which gives a rude and knotty appearance to the surface. The lining is abundant and 

 is composed of fine grass and feathers. 



" ' There are frequently two broods from the same nest in the same season, the first 

 in the end of May and beginning of June, the other in July and August. The birds 

 that built against my window reared one brood in June, and, as soon as the young were 

 able to fly, they were escorted by the old birds during the day and were initiated in the 

 art of fly-catching, returning to the nest about sunset or earlier if the rain was heavy. 

 This continued for about ten days, when the young birds disappeared, and the old ones 

 laid aqain in the same nest towards the end of Julv.' 



" The late Captain Beavan mentions that he ' found a nest which was built in the 

 verandah of the dak bungalow at Eagoo on the 2nd August, I860. It was then hut just 

 finished, and the female had not yet begun to lay her eggs. The nest is like that of 

 H. rustica, made of mud, but has a funnel-shaped entrance, some 4 or 5 inches in length, 

 continued from the top of the nest along the angle caused by the meeting of the wall 

 and the roof. The female keeps inside the nest, and from the continued twittering 

 which she made when visited by the male, I thought at first that the nest contained 

 young; and it was not until I drove her out that I discovered my mistake.' 



" The eggs of this species are similar to those of H. erythropygia, except that they 

 are slightly larger. They are long ovals, slightly compressed towards one end, pure 

 white, the shell of exquisite fineness, and somewhat, but not very, glossy. 



" In length they vary from - 81 to OS9 inch, and in breadth from 0"55 to 0*6 inch, 

 but the average is - 85 to 055 inch." 



The descriptions are copied from the British Museum ' Catalogue.' The specimen 

 figured is in the Hume collection. The drawing, taken by Mr. Wyatt during his visit 

 to the Himalayas, represents the snows of Nepal and Mount Everest. 



