90 JOURNAL, R.A.S, (CEYLON). [Vol. II., PART I. 



C. balasiensis, (Gray).— The smallest and commonest of 

 our Cypselidce, frequenting palmyra trees in all parts of 

 the country. Its colour is one unvaried ashy brown, with 

 a tinge of green in its gloss. Total length 4 J in. Tail 

 very forked. On the wing it may be easily distinguished 

 from the preceding by its slimmer shape and deeper forked 

 tail, which it is continually unclosing and folding. It may 

 be found on the wing all through the day, but in the 

 evening it is most brisk, hawking after its food and chasing 

 its fellows with shrill screams round some solitary pal- 

 myra tree, in the dead and hanging fronds of which several 

 pairs build their nests, which are composed of the dry cotton 

 of the Bombax pentandron and other light flossy substances, 

 collected by them on the wing, and cemented together in a 

 semi-circular shaped cup, attached by the flat side to the 

 leaf. The eggs are of a pure white. I have never found 

 more than three in a nest. They breed in the months of 

 May and June, perhaps oftener, as contrary to my former 

 supposition I found they are only partially migratory. 



Genus Collocalia (Gray). — This genus has been estab- 

 lished for the reception of the fabricators of the celebrated 

 edible nests of the Chinese gourmands. In structure the birds 

 prove to be true Cypseli, but of a feeble race ; they also 

 differ in the feet and naked tarsi, the hind toe being well 

 opposed, though capable of rotating forward. Three species 

 only are well known : it is probable there are many more, but 

 from the conflicting accounts of travellers much uncertainty 

 still exists concerning them.* Of those three, one only has 



* Extract of a private letter to the author from Dr. E. Blytb, Curator 

 Hon. E. I. Co.'s Museum, Calcutta, dated August 7, 1849 : — " I shall? 

 therefore, be glad of any additional information you might be able to 

 supply me "with relation to distribution of species, their nidification, 

 &c, and at present I should be glad to know if any edible birds* nests 

 are gathered on the Ceylon coast ; and, if so, whatever you can learn 

 about them, with specimens of the birds, probably of more than -one 

 species, which construct them, and the nest of each species .Since 



