306 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
290. HIEUNDO NIPALENSIS. 
THE NIPAL STRIPED SWALLOW. 
Hirundo nipalensis, Hodgs. J. A. S. B. v. p. 780 ; Hume, S. F. v. p. 262 ; Hume 
Dav. S. F. vi. p. 44 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 84 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 233 ; Oates, 
S. F. X. p. 184. Lillia daurica (Linn.), Hume, Nests and Fggs, p. 78. 
Cecropis nipalensis, Hume, S. F. iii. p. 42. Cecropis er3rthropygia, a'pud 
Bl. B. Burm. p. 127. 
Description. — Male and female. Very similar to H. japonica in general 
appearance^ but diflfering in the following respects : — tlie rump is not striated^ 
a few of the longer feathers only having darker shafts^ but these are incon- 
spicuous and fail to catch the eye readily ; the striations on the lower 
surface are rather broad, but not so broad as in H. japonica, and the 
black on the under tail-coverts is only -8 inch in length; the length of 
the wing varies from 4*5 to 4'8 ; the other dimensions are the same as in 
H. japonica. 
The Nipal Striped Swallow is found in winter over the whole of British 
Burmah, and is the only Striped Swallow which is common. It has the 
habits of H, rusticttj flying about and resting on trees &c. in the same 
manner. 
In the winter it is spread over the Indo-Burmese countries and the 
peninsula of India,, and probably extends to China. Dr. Tiraud refers, but 
with doubt, the Striped Swallow of Cochin China to the present species. 
It summers in the Himalayas, and breeds in those mountains. The nest 
is bottle-shaped, made of mud and lined with feathers and it is placed 
under the eaves and in the verandahs of empty houses. At times it resorts 
for breeding-purposes to high cliffs and ruined buildings. The eggs are 
generally three in number and white. 
There are many reputed species of Striped Swallows. These birds are, 
however, little understood at present, and probably the number of species 
will be considerably reduced on further investigation. The species next 
treated of is somewhat doubtful, but I am not in a position to suppress 
it. As far as my present information goes, there are grounds for ranking 
it as a good species, and I accordingly insert it. 
