RUFOUS SWALLOW. 181 



Daurica: — "H. rufula f Daurica) is still more singular 

 in its nidification, always fixing its nest under a cave 

 or projecting slab of rock. In the little Klissoura, 

 and throughout the precipices of Aracynthus, there 

 are plenty of these caves, in former times a convenient 

 refuge for the Klephtsas; they are now for shepherds 

 tending their flocks during the winter months. This 

 eccentric Swallow, not satisfied with having a good 

 dry cave all to himself, must needs construct a long 

 passage to his nest; thus giving it the shape of a retort, 

 with the upper part cut away, and the remaining 

 portion glued underneath a fiat surface. The entrance 

 is narrow, but the passage gradually widens till it 

 finally opens into a sort of chamber, very warmly lined 

 with feathers; here the little fellow and his mate are 

 sure to be most snugly tucked in just after sundown, 

 when they cannot see to catch any more insects. 

 Escape therefore is impossible when a ruthless orni- 

 thologist wishes to capture the pair for the sake of 

 identifying their eggs. No more than one pair ever 

 seem to occupy a cave, though the remains of previous 

 nests could occasionally be traced on the roof. The 

 same pair appear to return year after year, and their 

 nest, unless injured by shepherd boys during the 

 winter, will merely require a little touching up to 

 render it again habitable. The fact of the same birds 

 returning was proved by these caves being untenanted, 

 where the pair had been captured during the preceding 

 year. Several nests with eggs were found towards the 

 end of May and beginning of June, 1859. Four seems 

 about the complement; they are quite white, much 

 resembling eggs of H. urbica, which could be Well 

 passed off for them in collections. 



"A curious circumstance in connection with one of 



