92 
CATALOGUE. 
A. B. C. Dukhun. Presented by Colonel Sykes. 
D. E./ Assam. Presented by J. McClelland, Esq. 
g. Khussuk. From Griffith's Collection. 
h. i. Drawings. From Heyne's Collection. 
j. Young. Nepal. Presented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 
This is perhaps the most generally distributed and abundant of 
the Indian swallows, being found in all parts of the country, fre- 
quenting both the neighbourhood of water, open plains, and gardens : 
it appears to differ but very slightly from the European swallow. I 
do not know that it breeds in this country, but think not ; and it 
certainly disappears from some places during the hot season and 
monsoon. If it does not breed in the north of India, it probably 
spreads over the north of the Asiatic continent." — (Jerd. Madr. 
Journ. XI. p. 237.) 
Captain Thomas Hutton remarks : "I first saw this bird on the 
wing at Candahar, on the 8th February, 1840, and 5th February, 
1841. They are abundant throughout the summer months, and build 
in the open rooms, in temples, &c. They retire in October. The 
advent and departure both depend upon the mildness of the seasons, 
so that they are sometimes later, sometimes earlier than above stated. 
I have seen them on the wing when the thermometer stood no higher 
than 36°. On the 8th February, 1840, when I saw the first swallow 
of that year, there had been hard frost and ice during the night ; but 
the morning was fine and sunshiny. On the 16th of that month, the 
thermometer stood at 38°, and on the 17th, again at 36°; yet 
swallows were twittering, and on the wing, coursing after insects, 
which are abundant at that season. This fact, however, would seem 
to argue that migration does not take place with these birds so 
much from a dread of encountering cold, as because their natural 
food begins to fail them in the autumnal season. But where do they 
migrate to, for we have them at Candahar precisely at the same 
seasons as in England ? Do they travel to the Eastern Isles, or to 
tlie regions of Southern Africa, or where ? I have seen another 
species at Mussoorie also on the wing, on the 20th February, 1842, 
when frost and ice were on the ground, though the morning was fine 
.and sunshiny." — (Joum. A. S. Beng. XYI. p. 781.) 
113. HIR UNDO DA URIC A, Linn. 
Hirundo daurica. Linn., Mant. p. 528. G. R. Gray, 
Gen. of Birds, I, p. 57 ; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. II. p. 22. 
