No. 4.— 1848.] SKETCHES IK NATUEAL HISTOEY. 85 



deep dull orange ; the upper parts are of a more unvaried 

 green, and the lower lighter and streakless. 



Found in Colombo and Jaffna, occasionally in company 

 with the preceding, but its great haunt seems to be about 

 Kandy, where it maybe found in small parties of six or eight. 

 When one flies from a tree the rest all follow, and though 

 the Indian species are said to be solitary, this one is certainly 

 not so. They also roost in these small parties, as in the 

 evening I have seen them seeking their roosting-place 

 together. Native name, Kottoruwd. 



Nothing is known of the birds, &c, of the Batticaloa 

 district. Contributions from thence will prove most accep- 

 table to the Society's Museum. B. caniceps and Indicus I 

 have seen from thence, but some even of the Indian species 

 may yet be found there. In a small collection presented 

 to our president, I found two specimens of Halcyon capensis, 

 which is stated to be common there, though unknown in 

 this part of the Island. Also in a small lot of skins brought 

 thence by a friend, I detected five species not found here — 

 one of them a water-rail (Rallus). The district is rich in 

 water-birds, and worthy the attention of any of our members 

 who may be visiting it. 



On the Genus Hirundo. 



In commenting on the Fissirostral tribe, Swainson has 

 well and shortly described them in the following passage : — 

 u The Fissirostral birds, as a whole, are peculiarly distin- 

 guished by having the powers of flight developed in the 

 highest degree : all the energies of their nature seem con- 

 centrated in this one perfection ; for their feet are always 

 very short, weak, and generally so imperfect as to be of no 

 further use than to rest the body after flight. Their 

 food is exclusively insects, captured upon the wing. To 

 accomplish this, nature has given to their mouths enormous 



