Cecropia erythropygia (nec Sykes), Blyth, B. Burm. p. 127 (1875) ; Blakist. & Pryer,
B. Japan, p. 139 (1878).
Lillia arctivitta. Hume, Str. F. v. pp. 261, 266 (1877).
lAllia japónica. Hume, Str. F. v. p. 261 (1877).
Lillia nipalensis, Hume, Str. F. v. p. 262 (1877).
nh'ìindo arclivitta, Oates, Handb. B. Br. Burm. i. p. 306 (1883).
Hirundo alpestris, f3. nipalensis, Seebohm, Ibis, 1883, p. 169.
Hirundo alpestris, Seebohm, Birds of Japan. Emp. p. 142 (1890).
Hirundo alpestris nipalensis, Seebohm, t. c. p. 113 (1890).
/ / . s ira ilis H . dauriccp e t su b tù s p an ilo rn fe sc en s, sed m u lto m in o r, a là brcviore : su b tù s d is tin c tè s tria ta .
H a b . in in su lis J a p o n ic is e t in Chiuà , in m o u tib u s H im a la y a n is : in p e n in su la In d ic à e t in reg io n e
In d o -B u rm a n ic à to tà h ib c rn an s .
A d u lt jnale. G e n e ra l c o lo u r above d a rk p u rp lish blu e , s tr e a k e d w ith w h ite w h e re th e w h ite bases show
th r o u g h ; th e win g -co v e rts lik e th e b a c k ; b a s ta rd -w in g , p rim a ry -c o v c rts , and q uills b la ckish,
glossed e x te rn a lly w ith s te e l-b lu e ; rum p a n d u p p e r ta il-co v e rts c in n am o n -ru fo u s, w ith d is tin c t
n a rrow b la ck sh a ft-lin e s , th e lo n g co v e rts d a rk p u rp lish b lu e , w ith l ig h t rufous bases ; ta i l -
f e a th e rs b la ck , glo ssed w ith s te e l-b lu e ; c row n o f b e a d d a rk p u rp lish b lu e lik e th e b a ck ; ov e r th e
eye a few ru fo u s f e a th e r s ; sides o f th e h in d e r crown deep rufous, co n v e rg in g towa rds th e nape ,
b u t n o t fo rm in g a d is tin c t co lla r, th e nap e -p lum e s b e in g b lu e edged w ith ru fo u s ; lo re s w h itish ,
tip p ed w ith d u s k y ; e a r-co v e rts smoky b row n , s lig h tly tin g e d w ith ru fo u s and b ro ad ly s tre ak ed
w ith d u sk y b row n ; che eks a n d th ro a t d u ll w h ite , b ro ad ly s tre a k e d with b la ck ish , m o re d is tin c tly
on th e l a tte r ; rem a in d e r o f th e u n d e r su rfa c e pa le ru f e s c e n t buff, v e ry d is tin c tly s tre a k e d witli
b la c k ; sides o f u p p e r b r e a s t p u rp lish b lu e ; th ig h s r a th e r w h i t e ; u n d e r ta il-c o v e rts lik e th e
abdom en, th e low e r o n e s blue -b la ck w ith pa le ru f e s c e n t b a se s a n d b la ck sh a ft-lin e s ; la te r a l u n d e r
ta il-c o v e rts w h ite , w ith b la ck sh a ft-liu c s a n d a d is tin c t ova l sp o t o f b lu e -b la c k n e a r th e tip ;
axilla rie s a n d u n d e r w ing-cove rts ru fe s c e n t huif, a ll w ith d is tin c t b la c k sh a ft-lin e s , b ro ad e r on
th e o u te r u n d e r w ing-cove rts ; q u ills below d u sk y , p a le r a lo n g th e in n e r web : “ b ill b la ck ; feet
d u sk y ; claws b la c k ; ir is bla ck ish b row n ” {J. S c u ily ) . T o ta l le n g th 7 '4 inche s, cu lm en 0 '4 ,
win g 4-55, ta il 4 , ta rsu s 0 ’65.
A d u lt fem a le . S im ila r to th e ma le in co lo u r. T o ta l le n g th 7 ’3 inche s, cu lm en 0-35, win g 4 ‘5 , ta il 3 ‘7,
ta r su s 0 6.
Vovng. Diffe rs from th e a d u lt in its d u lle r blu e p lum ag e , a n d in h a v in g n a rrow w h itish edges to th e
in n e r s e c o n d a rie s : “ b ill b la ck , th e b a se o f th e low e r m a n d ib le a n d gape fleshy y e llow ; feet
d u sk y b rownish ; claws yellow ; ir is b row n ish b la c k ” ( J . S cuUy ).
H u b . S o u th e rn I s la n d s o f J a p a n , C h in a , H im a la y a M o u n ta in s . W in te r in g in th e P en in su la o f In d ia
an d th e B u rm e se c o u n trie s .
!n this species the length of the wing varies from 4‘3 to 4 7 5 and even 4-8 inches, so
that in this respect it attains to the dimensions of H. daxirica, from which, indeed, it
is difficult to separate the species specifically. The streakings of the underparts are
3
sometimes almost as strongly indicated as those of H. striolata, vvliile the slightly
rufescent colouring of the under surface allies it to H. daurica. It cau, indeed, only
be considered a small race of the latter species, tliougli some examples are as pale below
as H. striolata.
It was first discovered by Mr. Hodgson in Nepal. He says that it is “ the Swallow
of the Central Region, a household creature, remaining for seven or eight months in
the year.” Dr. Scully also writes :—“ This Swallow is even more common in the valley
of Nepal than H. rustica, and is much more familiar in its habits than that species,
constantly flying about houses and often entering into the room. It lives in the vallev
for about eight months in the year, migrating to lower levels in winter. It was not
uncommon in the Nawakot district about the end of November.
“ This species breeds in the valley from April to the end of July, some birds
certainly producing two broods in the season. The nests are made of pellets of fine
light-coloured clay, and are usually fixed between the rafters of verandahs or of rooms
which are little used. The shape of the nest is a rather irregular half-retort; the
entrance being long and narrow. The usual number of eggs laid is four, and these rest
on a beautiful cushion of soft feathers—often those of the Chikore, Black Partridge, and
Pigeon. The eggs are well known; pure delicate white, in shape long oval, smaller at
one end.”
It likewise occurs throughout the Western Himalayas, though Mr. Brooks did not
observe it in Kashmir. At Murree it breeds, and, according to Colonel C. II. T. Marshall,
it is the “ House-Swallow ” of the place. He found eggs in June. Stoliczka found it at
Naehar in the Sutlej Valley, and Mr. Hume states that it is far from rare there. It
nested regularly at llothney Castle, Mr. Hume’s beautiful house at Simla; aud Captain
Bcavan writes:—“ Noticed at Simla about tlie end of April, now and tlien about the
house, as if iu quest of a place to build in ; but apparently it docs not build until much
later. I observed this species at Simla up to Sept. 15th, when I noticed that it was
almost the only species visible, and still common.”
:Mr. lirooks records this Swallow as common both at Nynee Tal and Alinora, as well
as at Binsur, which is twelve miles further north than Almor.i. Specimens from
Mussoorie are in the Hume collection, and Mr. Brooks records it as met with on the
march from Mussoorie to Gangaotri. Between Simla and Mussoorie, Colonel Tytler also
says that the species was common aud at considerable heights.
In the winter it is met with in the plains of India, and Mr. Hume’s collection contains
specimens from Oudh and Etawah; it has been met with as far south as Mam-
bhoom, where Captain Bcavan found it “ tolerably common.”
Mandelli procured the species in the Bliutan Dooars iu April, and there are specimens
m the Hume collectiou from this locality, as well as others from Faridpur in
Eastern Bengal, obtained by Mr. J. R. Cripps, while Mr. Inglis procured it at Dilkusha
in Cachar. Colonel Godwiu-Austen has specimens from the Halia Hills. Mr. llume
writes “ Though not common, I met with this occasionally both in the hills aud plains