THE SWALLOW. l8l 



in December/ we learn from Mr. Blyth that it 

 is common in the north-west provinces of India 

 during the winter months. Capt. Beavan saw 

 it at DarjeeHng in 1862, and Maunbhoom in 

 1864-65, where both old and young were very 

 common in January and February, hawking over 

 rice-kates and near tanks. In Northern Japan 

 it was observed by Capt. Blakiston, and in North 

 China by Mr. Swinhoe. Referring to a species 

 of Swallow which he observed in Formosa, Mr. 

 Swinhoe says (" Ibis," 1863, p. 255) : " In its ha- 

 bits, in nest and colour of eggs, &c., this bird en- 

 tirely agrees with the European H. rustica ; yet 

 in size it is always smaller, and in minor per- 

 sonal features different. It ranges in summer 

 from Canton to Pekin, and Mr. Blyth assures me 

 that it is identical with specimens procured in 

 winter in Calcutta ; hence I infer that the birds 

 which visit China in spring, and uniformly leave 

 again in autumn, return to hybernate in the 

 warm plains of India." 



1 " The Land of Israel," p.' 105. 



