310 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
Dr. Tiraud states that it is common in Cochin China_, and Mr. Swinhoe 
found it in South China and Formosa. It is spread over the Indo-Burmese 
countries and the greater portion of India^ becoming rare in the south ot 
that peninsula. 
This Httle Sand-Martin is a very common bird at all seasons of the 
year. It is mostly found on and near large rivers where the banks are 
steepj but not unfrequently it may be observed far inland_, hawking after 
insects like ordinary Swallows. It lays its eggs in a hole in a river -bank, 
the tunnel leading to the nest varying from one to four feet in length. 
The entrance to the tunnel and the passage itself is very small, but the 
egg-chamber is a roomy hollow. The eggs, which are four or five in num- 
ber, are laid upon a pad of grass and are white. The excavation of the 
nest-holes is commenced in Burmah about November. These birds usually 
breed in large colonies, a firm and nearly perpendicular bank being selected 
for the purpose. 
295. COTILE RIPAEIA. 
THE EUROPEAN SAND-MARTIN. 
Hirundo riparia, Linn. Sysi. Nat. i. p. 344. Cotyle riparia, Jei^d. B. Ind. i. 
p. 163 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 128 ; Hume Dav. S. F. vi. p. 44 ; Hume, 
S. F. viii. p. 84. Cotile riparia, Dresser, Birds Eur. iii. p. 505, pi. ; Oates, 
8. F. X. p. 184. 
Description. — Male and female. The whole upper plumage, tail, sides of 
the head and neck and a broad pectoral band greyish brown ; the feathers of 
the rump and tail narrowly margined paler ; wings and coverts dark brown j 
chin, throat, abdomen, vent and under tail-coverts white. 
Bill black; iris brown ; legs dark brown. 
Length 5 inches ; tail 2' 3, forked to the extent of '4; wing 4; tar- 
sus '45 j bill from gape "5. 
The European Sand-Martin is a somewhat rare winter visitor to Pegu 
and Tenasserim, and it probably also occurs in Arrakan. I observed it in 
the Pegu river on several occasions, and Mr. Davison found it on the 
Sittang and Sal ween rivers in January and February. 
This Sand-Martin has a very wide range. In winter it is found , 
sparingly over the greater part of India, and ranges westwards into 
Europe, where it also spends the summer. The birds which in winter are 
found in Southern Asia appear to migrate in summer into China and Siberia. 
Pere David states that it breeds in South China, and Mr. Swinhoe ob- 
serves that it is found near Pekin in summer. According to Mr. Seebohm, 
it arrived on the Arctic circle in J une, but he did not see it further north 
