No. 4.— 1848.] SKETCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY. 87 



species new to the Indian Fauna. My first acquaintance 

 with the species was in November, 1847, when on a journey- 

 to Kandy. Their glossy blue wings and back contrasting 

 with their red underside and tail coverts, struck my atten- 

 tion, nor could I remember having ever seen any other 

 swallow with the same fine tints. During our breakfast at 

 Ambepussa they were continually skimming over the open 

 space in front of the bungalow and along the river in search 

 of their insect prey. Not having a gun I was obliged to 

 content myself with making a note of them in my Journal 

 of Natural History. In February of last year Mr. Brodie, 

 of Puttalam, showed me a very fresh specimen of a new 

 swallow, which he said he had found in a chena towards 

 Kurunegala. This I instantly recognised as the Ambepussa 

 bird, and this is the first instance of its being procured. 

 Subsequently I observed them at Ambagamuwa in March, 

 and at Kandy in November. They frequent the hills free 

 from high trees, and are fond of perching in flocks on the 

 coffee and other low bushes, sallying off occasionally in 

 quest of insects.* 



Plumage of the back as far as the tail coverts glossy 

 steel blue. Tail coverts, vent, and breast deep rufous ; 

 throat inclining to yellow ; just over, and in front of the 

 eye, is a still darker rufous line. The shafts of the breast 

 and throat feathers are black, the colour extending in some 



* The late Dr. Gardner told me that a pair of these birds built their 

 nest on a ring in the ceiling of his house in the Botanical Gardens at 

 Peradeniya. The ring supported a chain and hanging lamps in the 

 centre of the sitting-room. This shows their fearless nature, resembling 

 in this respect the common martin of England, and also in the struc- 

 ture of their nest, which Dr. Gardner described as " made of clay and 

 like that of the English swallow." Eggs unknown at present : but I 

 trust this notice may attract the attention of some one residing in the 

 interior, and lead to specimens being sent to us for our local Museum. 

 The young birds frequented the nest for a month after being full fledged, 

 returning to it every night to roost. 



