88 JOURNAL, B.A.S. ( CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART I. 



instances to the feather; under tail coverts rufous, with 

 steel blue tips ; the tail and wing primaries glossy rifle 

 green. In size these birds exceed R. gutturalis, both in 

 length and plumpness. The wings are pointed, and the tail 

 forked, though not to the extent of the preceding. The 

 exterior feathers I have never observed of equal length. 

 Bill distinctly hooked and notched; feet and legs more 

 robust than among the generality of swallows ; lateral toes 

 equal ; hind toe longer than middle, and as long as 

 tarsus. 



Macropteryx (Swainson).— An intermediate genus of 

 Swainson's, between Hirundo and Cypselus. Tarsus very 

 short and bare ; anterior toes of nearly equal length ; halux 

 shortest ; hind toe very weak and short ; plumage silky ; 

 head crested ; tail very long and much forked ; outer tail 

 feathers projecting upwards of 2 in. beyond the next. 

 Wings in some very long. 



We have but one of the present genus in the Island, 

 M. coronatus (or longipcnius), which appears to be 

 generally distributed, though not very common. I have 

 traced it along the western coast to Jaffna, in the interior 

 to Kandy, and along the Ambagamuwa range. In Colombo 

 it is met with in small parties, frequenting the cinnamon 

 gardens in the neighbourhood of high jungle. They have a 

 long sailing flight, during which they utter a peculiar note 

 distinct from any of the swallow tribes, and not unlike the 

 words " chiffle-chaffle, chiffle-chaffle" ending with " klecho- 

 klecho" often repeated,— the cry they likewise utter when 

 perched on the leafless branches of trees on the look-out for 

 insects. The crest on the head is on such occasions rapidly 

 elevated and depressed. Our Ceylon specimens agree well 

 with the description given by Dr. Blyth of the Indian birds. 

 " Outer tail, &c." I have never been able to ascertain the 

 breeding-place of these birds, although they seem to remain 



