H. rufula. We find, however, that our description of the under tail-coverts in
n . domicella is wrong, and that recent specimens in the British Aluseum mth more
])erfect feathering show that the under tail-coverts are blue at the ends, with whitish
bases, so that there can be little doubt that R. togoensis is R . domicella, aud we must
apologize to Dr. lleichenow for having misled him.
For the geographical distribution of this species, vide infrd, Plate 83 [Map].
H I R U N D O H Y P E R Y T H R A [anted, p .ssd ].
Add
Rirundo hypei’ythra, Sharpe & Wyatt, Monogr. Hirund. pt. xi. (1889); Oates, ed.
Hume’s Nest & Eggs Ind. B. ii. p. 201 (1890); id. Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii.
p. 284 (1890).
For the geographical distribution of this species, vide infrd, Plate 81 [Map].
H I R U NDO B A D I A [anted, p. 393].
Add :—
Rirundo badia, Shai’pe & Wyatt, Monogr. Hirund. pt. xi. (1880) ; Hartert, J. f. 0 .
1889, p. 354; Oates, ed. Hume’s Nest & Eggs Ind. B. ii. p. ISG, note (1890).
M r . H . \r t e r t states that the Berlin Aluseum possesses a specimen of this Swallow
from Sumatra. H e found it breeding in Perak, aud has given us the accompanymg
interesting account of the nesting-habits as observed by him:—“ I myself have never
seen this species in Sumati’a, and do not think that it occurred in those parts of the
island which I have visited: it is such a striking species that it could scarcely have
escaped my notice.
“ In the stomachs of those which 1 procured in Perak were some somewhat large
Cicada, flies, and mosquitoes. It was near the Kampong ‘ Padaug lliugas,’ in the
interior of I’erak, that I first saw this fine Swallow, as I was hunting for butterflies and
beetles in the burning mid-day sun. It was flying over the rice-fields, catching insects,
and soon disappeared; hut I could not make out where the birds came from or whither
they went, and, having no gun in my hand at the time, I could not procure a specimen,
though 1 at once recognized that it was a Swallow I had not seen before. I met with
the species again, however, some weeks after, further in the interior in the district
of Kinta, where it was breeding in the beginning of July, as I found the nests under
one of the houses erected, as usual, on piles. The nests were very peculiar, and were
constructed in the same way as those of our Common Martin, and lined with feathers.
The nests were very large, being quite a foot or more in length. The two under the house
were constructed in the interval between two beams, so that they rested on the lower
beam. In the middle they were more slender, for each consisted of two nests, as it were,
connected hya broad passage about two iuches long. There was an entrance to one nest
only. One of them contained two eggs, but the other was empty.
“ Later on I became acquainted with what I suppose to he their original mode of
nesting. I noticed several birds flying above the trees in the dense primmval forests in
Kinta, and saw them entering the caves which are to be found in the limestone hills
which are scattered about in this district. In one of these limestone caves, which ivas
very damp, I found a number of the nests; but all were empty, so that I suppose that
the proper laying time would be in Alay and June, and that I iiad happened upon a late
breeding pair, when I discovered the hefore-inentioned eggs under the house, as narrated
above.
“ Tko nests in tlio cave wero less distinctly divided into two portions. Tbe fnrtlier
they were in tlie cave, tho broader and longer wero tlio iiests, while those nearer to the
entrance varied in shape according to the accommodation afforded by the crevices or
shelves of the rooks. All these empty nests wore soft and friable, and easily broken,
while those I found beneath the bouse, and indeed all those recently constructed, nci- ’e
very strong.
“ The eggs were longisli ovals, pure white, with little gloss. They are larger than
those of II. daurica, to unspotted spodmens of w hich they are very similar. The grain,
however, is much coarser in the eggs of II. badia, aud shows very distinctly tlic rough
cross-lines wliioli arc characteristic of the eggs of many Swallows. They measured
23-0 mm. x IS’S, and 23'9 mm. X 15'9. jreiglit 17 ogs."
^ The following note occurs in Mr. Oates’s edition of Mr. Ilnmo’s ‘ Nests and Eggs of
Indian Birds ’ “ Jtr. J. Darling, Jun., records the following note regarding tho iiidi-
ticntion of Ilirimdo badia ■. ‘ The first bird of this species I shot in Kossoom was one of
a tlock that appeared from tho east and flew straight away westwards. I atterward.s
found them in considerable numbers iu a large limestono cave, in wliicli they were
breeding later on.
Again, in Poongali, I saw numbers flying about tho limestone hills that surround
the town. Their habits and voice arc almost similar to those of II. javanica. The iiest is
)ui t of pellets of mud stuck to the under surface of some rock in the shape of a Iialf-
goblet with a very long neck, and is Hncd with coarse grass-roots aud feathers.’”
I'or the geographical distribution of this species, vide infra, Plate 81 [Ala])].