chamber from 4i to 7 iuclies in diameter externally. These nests have been aptly 

 described as retort-shaped, and I do not think any lengthy description will convey a 

 clearer idea of the typical shape. They are not always, however, of this shape. Indeed 

 (though I am bound to say I cannot agree with him) Mr. F. Ft. Blewitt, who has 

 probably taken more of their nests than any one else in India, is disposed to believe that 

 the long retort-shaped nests are commonly built as residences, and the less-developed 

 ones as breeding-places. He says :— ' Eccentric to a degree is this Swallow in the 

 selection of a suitable place for its nest. I have obtained it on the ground, at the base 

 of a rock, having for protection just a small overhanging ledge ; in a hole in any old 

 wall ; affixed to the roof-top of a pucka house ; to the under ledge of a high rock ; the 

 arch of a culvert or bridge, &c. ; but never, though they may occur there, ' in mosques 

 and pagodas ; ' and ' twenty and thirty together,' as stated in Jerdon. I have always 

 found the nest single. The form and material of the nest depend mainly on the locality 

 chosen for it. Sometimes a simple collection of feathers answers the purpose ; at others, 

 as when attached to a roof-top, ledge of rock, &c, it is more or less dome-shaped, the 

 exterior of fine clay, the inside lined with feathers. The opening for egress and ingress 

 is invariably made above the centre of the nest. Frequently have I seen the ' spherical 

 or oval-shaped mud nest with the long neck or tubular entrance,' described by Jerdon, 

 but only once with eggs in it. This peculiar-shaped nest is also constructed at times 

 by S. filifera, and from frequent observations I have sometimes fancied that it is 

 intended more for a winter residence than for breeding purposes. I have recently 

 observed many of both species actively employed in the construction of these nests, long 

 after the breeding-season was well over. In the beginning of August I robbed a nest of 

 H. erythropygia, found attached to the roof of an outhouse : and in the identical place 

 from whence I had removed the former nest, the same pair of birds have now nearly 

 completed a new nest, ' oval-shaped, with the tubular entrance,' for, as I suppose, a 

 winter retreat. The birds only occupy it at night. The eggs are pure white, and four 

 appears to be the greatest number.' 



" During the breeding-season the old birds fly round about their nest, morning 

 and evening, uttering quite a variety of rather pretty, somewhat musical notes. During 

 the day they remain near, and one of them generally in the nest, or the pair may be 

 seen perched on some stone below the nest, sitting for an hour at a time preening their 

 feathers, the male every now and then singing a few notes. Old quarries, like those 

 near Futtehpore Sikri and Chunar, are favourite breeding-haunts of this species ; and 

 so are the old Moslem ruins that abound so in Upper India. 



" The nest-chamber is lined, sometimes thickly, sometimes thinly, with feathers 

 only, as a rule, but occasionally with a mixture of these and fine grass. 



" They are not easily driven away once they have made a nest. I have broken into 

 nests twice running, to see if any eggs were laid, and each time the birds have repaired 

 the nest, in which, despite these repeated burglaries, they have finally laid. 



" Major C. T. Bingham remarks : — ' Breeds at Allahabad in March, April, May, and 



