168 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The next species has been placed in a new sub-genus, Deltchon, 

 Hodgson, apud Moore, P. Z. S., 1854. Its characters are, the bill 

 short, thick, and robust ; tail nearly even, shorter than in Ch(lidon\ 

 but it differs so very sliglitly from it that it is barely worthy 

 of separation, and I shall not adopt it. 



94. Cheiidon Nipalensis, Hodgs. 



Delichon, apud Hodgson, Moore, P. Z. S., 1854, pi. — HoRsr., 



Cat. 621. 



The Little Himalayan Martin. 



Descr. — Upper parts and cliin, fine glossy black ; wings 

 black ; tail black, with glossy edges ; throat, and lower parts, and 

 rump, pure white ; fore part of the flanks black. 



Length, 3^ inches; wing, 3f ; tail, If. 



This pretty little Martin was only sent by Mr. Plodgson in 1853 

 from Nepal. I procured it at Darjeeling at about 4,500 feet of 

 elevation in the valley of the Rungnoo, near the mineral springs. 

 I found it flying over the jungles in large flocks, towards the close 

 of the rains, and during the cold weath3r. 



There is a very nearly allied species from Borneo, Chel. dosypus, 

 Bonaparte, who says that it is intermediate between Cheiidon and 

 Cofijle. 



Most of the American Swallows are placed by Bonaparte in the 

 genus Herse. The Australian Swallows are very close to true 

 Hirundo, and some of them have been placed by Gould under 

 Atticora, but that is a South American genus. Several Martins 

 appear peculiar to Africa, and some to America, but these last have 

 been separated under the name of Progne, and some of these are 

 said to eat berries. The well known Progne purpurea of North 

 America, or the Purple Martin, has the bill lengthened, and shows 

 a tendency to approach the Artami, and perhaps some of the 

 A mpelidaz. 



Sub-fam. CypseliNjE, Swifts. 



Bill very small, much hooked ; wings excessively long and 

 pointed; tail usually short, of ten feathers only ; feet short; hind 

 toe directed inward, but reversible to the front. 



