16 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



impossible. They probably breed ia company against precipitous 

 rocks. 



Swifts, (Cypselus.) — The breeding of the larger swifts is 

 dilBcult to ascertain from the same reason as in the case of the spine 

 tails. They fly with great ease and swiftness, and though not, as far as 

 is known, migratory ; in the true sense of the word, they wander far and 

 come and go irregularly. The palm swifts are much naore local and do 

 not wander far from their breeding haunts. The eggs of all swifts are 

 pure white and very elongated. They are all more or less gregarious 

 breeders. 



SwiftletS, (CoUocalin.) — Three kinds of swiftlets breed in 

 India. They are gregarious, with great powers of flight, and wander far. 

 They breed on rocks. Some of the species make the " edible nests". so 

 highly valued by the Chinese. Their eggs like those of the swifts are 

 pure white and very elongated. 



Tree swifts, ( Dendrocheledon). — Only one species is found in 

 India, and that confined to forests and very local. The egg (only one is 

 laid) is pure white and elongated. 



FrOgmOUthS, {Otothrix, Batrachostomus). — Are confined to 

 forests and very local, little is known of them. They probably breed in 

 holes or on stumps and lay v?hite eggs. 



Goatsuckers, ( Caprimulgus.)— Hhese birds are widely 

 spread, but each species is comparatively local. They are crepuscular in 

 their habits, and frequent wooded or waste jungly land. They are per- 

 manent residents wherever found, and lay two elongated eggs, beauti- 

 fully marked with pink or brown and salmon colour, on the bare ground 

 or on a few dead leaves. They lie exceedingly close, not rising till they 

 catch your eye. The beds of shady nullahs, ravines, at roots of trees, 

 or in dense underwood, are the spots where they usually deposit their 

 eggs, but they are sometimes laid by a sprig in an open field ; and to find 

 tbem careful and persevering search is necessary. Of G. macrourus and 

 C. mahrattensis, the eggs have not yet been found. Though not gre- 

 garious, one or two nests may sometimes be found very near each 

 other. 



TrOgOnS, (Uarpactes). — Are not migratory. They frequent dense 

 forests and lay pure white eggs in holes in decayed trees. Only two kinds 

 are found in India, and they are very local. 



BeeeaterS, (Merops, Nijctiomis) ,—Axe found all over India. 



