diff --git a/mercurial/httprangereader.py b/mercurial/httprangereader.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mercurial/httprangereader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# httprangereader.py - just what it says
+#
+# Copyright 2005 Matt Mackall <mpm@selenic.com>
+#
+# This software may be used and distributed according to the terms
+# of the GNU General Public License, incorporated herein by reference.
+
+import byterange, urllib2
+
+class httprangereader:
+    def __init__(self, url):
+        self.url = url
+        self.pos = 0
+    def seek(self, pos):
+        self.pos = pos
+    def read(self, bytes=None):
+        opener = urllib2.build_opener(byterange.HTTPRangeHandler())
+        urllib2.install_opener(opener)
+        req = urllib2.Request(self.url)
+        end = ''
+        if bytes: end = self.pos + bytes
+        req.add_header('Range', 'bytes=%d-%s' % (self.pos, end))
+        f = urllib2.urlopen(req)
+        return f.read()