DENDROCHELIDON CORONATUS. 329 



met with it about the Slave-Island lake in the height of the boisterous weather. In the Galle district it is a 

 very common bird, and follows the coast round to the Hambantota district in fair numbers, and thence 

 spreads throughout the flat, jungle-clad country to the Haputale hills. I have noticed it in all parts of the 

 Eastern Province that I have visited, and in the jungles of the northern half of the island have found it 

 chiefly confining itself to the vicinity of the grand old tanks, such as Minery, Topare, Kanthelai, &c., and 

 likewise affecting any large clearings which may exist in the forests of the Vanni. In the Kandyan Province 

 it is common enough in the coffee-districts, and in fine weather may be seen about the Elephant, Kandapolla, 

 and Horton Plains. Mr. Holdsworth does not record it from Nuwara Elliya; but I have seen it a few miles 

 from that place, about which it no doubt flies in the course of its day's wanderings. 



On the mainland this fine Swift is found, according to Jerdon, throughout Southern and Central India, 

 but " most abundant on the Malabar coast and the Wynaad, extending up the slopes of the Nilghiris to 

 4000 feet or thereabouts." Mr. Eairbank only observed one example in the Palani hills. It is recorded by 

 other observers to inhabit the sub-Himalayan districts ; and Mr. Hume says, in ' Nests and Eggs/ that it 

 breeds " below Kumaon and Gurwhal." Mr. Ball says it is found in most parts of Chota Nagpur, but nowhere 

 abundant ; he also obtained it in the Satpura range and Ilajmehal hills. It extends into Burmah. Mr. Oates 

 found it common throughout the year in Upper Pegu ; Mr. Davison procured it in the pine forests north of 

 Kollidoo in Northern Tenasserim ; but in the south he did not meet with it, as it appears to be replaced there 

 by D. comatus and D. klecho, which two species, in common with other Malayan forms, do not seem to extend 

 much to the north of Mergui. 



Habits. — This species is strikingly arboreal in its habits, haunting open hill-sides or clearings in the 

 jungle studded with dead trees, on which it perches almost as freely as a Passerine bird. In such localities 

 little colonies may often be met with, the majority of the birds in which will be seen dashing about with great 

 velocity in quest of insects, while half a dozen or less are perched on the topmost branches of some tall dead 

 tree standing among a group of rocks, where it has escaped the woodman's axe, but has been charred 

 and killed by the fire which has swept his clearing. Here it sits elevating and depressing its crest and 

 constantly uttering its loud call, until it dashes forth and commences to hawk round the adjacent tract with 

 its companions, who, in their turn, settle for a while and join in the noisy cries. When thus perched the 

 Crested Swift presents a singular appearance, its long wings, crossed widely over its attenuated tail, forming a 

 broad arrow, the striking aspect of which is increased by the long body in continuation of it, and the crest 

 erected as fiercely as that of a Cockatoo. When wandering about from place to place, it has a very swift flight, 

 performed with quick and powerful strokes of the wing, varied with wide sweeps and downward plunges, from 

 which it gracefully rises on its rapid course. At times it flies high in the air, but, as a rule, keeps a short 

 distance above the trees of the forest or the wooded tank over which it is hawking. Jerdon remarks that 

 " should there be a tank or pool of water or river near, it is fond of descending suddenly, just touching the 

 water, and then rising again with unrivalled grace and speed." It utters its loud cry when frying, as do other 

 members of the family, but not so repeatedly as when perched, at which time it appears to call to its 

 companions on the wing, and is then very tame, allowing a near approach without taking flight. Its food 

 consists of small flies, of which it consumes quantities, its stomach being very capacious for the size of its body. 



Some Indian writers speak of the great velocity with which this Swift flies. This has never struck me 

 as any thing very extraordinary if only compared with that of the lightning-like speed of the Spine-tail. 

 Mr. Oates speaks of it flying over a certain bungalow in Pegu, and " dipping with incredible velocity to 

 the surface of the Irrawaddy." It certainly has, as I have remarked above, a great speed when thus launching 

 itself downward from its course. 



Nidification. — Nothing authentic has ever been discovered of the breeding of this bird in Ceylon. The 

 natives assured Layard that it built in old Euphorbia-trees, ; possibly it may ; but this tree is not well suited to 

 its habits, and I have never myself seen the bird about it. The inhabitants of the Malabar coast informed 

 Jerdon that it bred in holes in trees ; this certainly is erroneous, for, as a matter of fact, its curious nest, 

 which has several times been found in India, is, according to Mr. Hume, " a little, shallow, saucer-shaped 

 structure, composed of thin flakes of bark, gummed, probably by the bird's own saliva, against the side of a 



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