Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 2).djvu/289

Rh 811. Ptyonoprogne concolor. The Dusky Crag-Martin.

Hirundo concolor, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 83 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 199.

Cotyle concolor (Sykes), Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 97 ; Jerd. B. 2nd. i, p. 165 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 83.

Ptyonoprogne concolor^AS^&es), Hume, N. fy E. p. 83 ; id. Cat. no. 90 ; Oates in Humes N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 181.

Cotile concolor (Sykes), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 108.

Coloration. The whole upper plumage, wings, and tail dark sooty brown ; a white spot on the inner web of all the tail-feathers except the middle and outermost pairs, the spot on the pair next the middle one being obsolete or frequently wanting ; cheeks, chin, throat, and fore neck rufescent, streaked with brown; remainder of lower plumage sooty brown, many of the feathers with fulvous margins and darker shafts.

The young bird has the upper plumage and wings margined with rufous.

Iris dark brown ; bill, legs, and claws brown (Bingham). Length about 5 ; tail 2 ; wing 4 -2 ; tarsus -4 ; bill from gape -5.

Distribution. The plains of India, from the foot of the Himalayas to the Mlgiris, and extending eastwards to Behar and Western Bengal. To the west this species is found throughout Eajputana, but does not appear to be found in Sind.

Habits, fyc. Breeds during many months of the year, the time varying according to locality. The nest is cup-shaped, constructed of mud and attached to a rock or wall in caves, old buildings, and cliffs. The eggs are white, speckled with yellowish and reddish brown, generally four in number, and measure about 72 by -52.

812. Ptyonoprogne obsoleta. The Pale Crag-Martin.

Cotyle obsoleta, Cab. Mus. Hein. i, p. 50 (1850) ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 83. Ptyonoprogne pallida, Hume, S. F. i, pp. 1, 417 (1873). Ptyonoprogne obsoleta (Cab.), Hume, Cat. no. 91 bis. Cotile obsoleta (Cab.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x, p. 111.

Coloration. The whole upper plumage pale greyish brown ; wings and tail darker ; all the tail-feathers with a white spot on the inner web except the middle and outermost pair, but with signs of a spot on the latter sometimes ; a black spot in front of the eye ; sides of the head like the upper plumage ; lower plumage white, tinged with fulvous, and gradually turning to pale brown on the lower abdomen and under tail-coverts, which latter are margined paler.

Legs and feet dusky greyish brown ; bill blackish brown ; iris blackish brown (Butler). Length about 5-5; tail 2-2; wing 4*5; tarsus '4; bill from gape -55.