288 Passeres. BIRDS. Hiruxdinid.e. 
southern stations, and it is not known with certainty that 
they ever breed in Southern India. Mr. Jerdon notices 
tliat it disappears from some places during the hot 
season, and suggests that it may breed in the north of 
India, or spread still further over the Asiatic continent. 
It seems not improbable that both these suppositions 
maybe correct; for, according to Captain Hutton, these 
birds breed freely at Candahar during the summer, 
building their nests in temples, open rooms, verandahs, 
and similar places. They seem to arrive at Candahar 
very early in the spring, as Captain Hutton says he has 
observed them there on the 5th of February, flying 
about with the thermometer at 36°. They leave the 
region of Candahar in October. 
THE ■WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW [Hirundo filifera), 
another Indian species, distinguished from the pre- 
ceding by having the extremity of the tail nearl}^ even, 
with the two outer feathers very long and almost 
thread-like, is one of the most elegant of the Swallows. 
It is not common in the southern parts of the Indian 
peninsula, Avhere it is always seen about water ; but in 
the north it is very common, frequenting fields and 
gardens, as well as the vicinity of water. It usually 
flies in small parties of four or six, and builds a small 
saucer-like mud nest in holes of old walls and build- 
ings, and on the sides of walls. Colonel Sykes describes 
this bird as presenting a very beautiful appearance 
when flying, with its thread-like tail feathers floating 
behind it. 
THE CAPE SWALLOW {Hirundo eapensis), which is 
a summer inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope, and, 
indeed, of the southern part of the African continent 
generally, is another species very nearly allied to our 
Chimney Swallow, for which, indeed, it might easily 
be mistaken when flying. Like the common English 
Swallow, it is met with principally about inhabited 
places, and is so familiar as to enter the houses and 
build its nest against the walls and rafters. This pro- 
ceeding is viewed with great satisfaction by the human 
inhabitants of the dwellings, who regard the swallows 
as birds of good omen. The nest is built with clay, 
worked in the same way as that of the Common 
Swallow, but the architectural powers of the South 
African bird are far greater than those of its European 
relation, for the nest, instead of being a mere cup, is 
closed on all sides, so as to form a hollow ball, to the 
interior of which access is obtained through a long 
tunnel. This cosy dwelling is lined with a profusion 
of the softest feathers. 
THE AUSTRALIAN CHIMNEY SWALLOW {Hirundo 
/rontaKs), called the Welcome {H.neoxena) 
b}'’ Mr. Gould, is a most beautiful representative of our 
Chimne}' Swallow at the veiy opposite side of the globe. 
Indeed this species was formerly supposed to be 
identical with the Panayan Swallow above referred to, 
and this again has been confounded with the Chimney 
Swallow of Europe, so that it will easily be seen that, 
notwithstanding its station at the antipodes, the Aus- 
tralian Swallow is very nearly related to our well-known 
little visitor. The plumage of the upper part of this 
bird is deep steel blue ; the forehead, chin, throat, and 
upper part of the chest, rusty red ; the remainder of 
the lower surflice is nearly white : the wings and tail 
are brownish black, and all the feathers of the latter, 
except the two middle ones, have an oblique spot of 
white on the inner web. 
Like our own swallows, this bird is migratoiy, passing 
the summer, and breeding in the southern parts of 
Australia and in 'Fan Diemen’s Land, but departing on 
the approach of winter to the more genial climates of 
the north. It arrives in New South Wales at the end 
of August or early in September, where it is welcomed 
by the colonists as the harbinger of spring and one 
can easily understand that the sight of a creature so 
like a familiar friend of the old country, cannot but be 
pleasant to the eyes of those who are separated from 
the scenes of their youth by half the circumferenee of 
the globe. Hence Mr. Gould proposed to call it the 
Welcome Swallow. 
The habits of the Australian Chimney Swallow agree 
very closely with those of our common species ; like 
this it breeds twice in the season, and builds a nest of 
a cup-like form, composed of mud bound together with 
straws and grass. The interior of the cup is lined with 
fine grass, and finally with a layer of soft feathers, 
upon which four spotted eggs are laid. The natural 
breeding places of these birds are clefts and caverns in 
the rocks; but it is a remarkable circumstance that 
since the colonization of Australia by Europeans, the 
swallows have acquired the habit of assoeiating them- 
selves with man, building their nests about the sheds 
and outbuildings, and even evincing a decided liking 
for the chimneys. 
THE TREE MARTIN {Hirundo nigricans), another 
Australian species, migrates like the preceding, and 
arrives in the southern colonies about the same time. 
It is also a familiar bird, taking up its abode in the 
towns without the least fear ; but, unlike the preceding 
swallow, it builds no nest, but breeds in the holes of 
trees, where it lays its eggs on the soft dust usually 
met with in such places. 
THE FAIRY MARTIN {Hirundo arid) is a beautiful 
little Australian species, in which, as in the preceding, 
the tail is short, and rather notched than forked at the 
end. The Fairy Martin has the crown of the head 
rod ; the plumage of the back deep steel-blue ; the 
rump and all the lower surface white or whitish. Each 
feather of the throat has a very fine brown line down 
its centre, so that this part has a delicately streaked 
appearance. This charming little martin arrives in the 
south of Australia in the month of August, and departs 
again to the northward in February or starch ; in the 
interval it produces from two to three broods. It is 
remarkable that, according to Mr. Gould’s observations, 
this bird seems to bear an antipathy to the sea-coast. 
He says that he never heard of its being within twenty 
miles of the sea, although at that distance inland it was 
to be met with in profusion. In its habits it resembles 
our Martin, and when it builds about houses selects 
similar positions for its nest. The nest, however, is of 
a different form, being shaped somewhat like a bottle, 
attached by its bottom, with a more or less curved 
neck protruding horizontally. 
THE AMERICAN BARN S'WALLO'W {Hirundo cry- 
tkrogaster), one of the most abundant of the Nortli 
American Swallows, was formerly supposed to be 
