Those two swallows are easily distinguished. The latter is the larger bird; its upper parts are glossy steel-blue, except the rump, which is of chestnut hue. The house-swallow has the rump glossy black, but it displays a good deal of red about the head and neck. In the cold weather the European swallow and two species of martin visit the Nilgiris. THE MOTACILLIDAE OR WAGTAIL FAMILY In the winter several kinds of wagtail visit the Nilgiris, but only one species remains all the year round. This is the beautiful pied wagtail (_Motacilla maderaspatensis_), of which the charming song must be familiar to all residents of Madras. On the Nilgiris the bird is not sufficiently common to require more than passing notice. The pipits are members of the wagtail family. They have not the lively colouring of the wagtails, being clothed, like skylarks, in homely brown, spotted or streaked with dark brown or black. They have the wagtail trick of wagging the tail, but they perform the action in a half-hearted manner. The two pipits most often seen on the Nilgiris in summer are the Nilgiri pipit (_Anthus nilgirensis_) and the Indian pipit (_A. rufulus_). I know of no certain method of distinguishing these two species without catching them and examining the hind toe. This is much shorter in the former than in the latter species. The Nilgiri pipit goes about singly or in pairs, and, although it frequents grassy land, it usually keeps to cover and flies into a tree or bush when alarmed. It is confined to the highest parts of the Nilgiris. The Indian pipit affects open country and seems never to perch in trees. THE ALAUDIDAE OR LARK FAMILY The Indian skylark (_Alauda gulgula_) is common on the Nilgiris. Wherever there is a grassy plain this species is found. Like the English skylark, it rises to a great height in the air, and there pours forth its fine song. To the ordinary observer the Indian skylark is indistinguishable from its European congener. The other common lark of the Nilgiris is the Malabar crested lark (_Galerita cristata_). This is in shape and colouring very like the Indian skylark, but is easily distinguished by the pointed crest that projects upwards and backwards from the hind part of the head. The crested lark has a pretty song, which is often poured forth when the bird is in the air. This species does not soar so high as the skylark. Like the latter, it frequents open spaces. THE NECTARINIDAE OR SUNBIRD FAMILY