144 Dr. G. Hartlaub on some new or little-known Birds 



ing after flies over the pools, frequently dipping into the water, 

 and perching on the overhanging boughs in clusters of six or 

 eight, to dry itself. It perches constantly and habitually on 

 trees, and thus may be at once distinguished from Cypselus 

 velox, which one of our zoological friends here thinks Levaillant 

 may have described from this species. 



" This habit of perching is noted by Mr. Cairncross, who writes, 

 ' This bird flies about very much like a bat [this resemblance 

 also occurred to us when we saw it], amongst thick forests of 

 trees, and is generally more visible in rainy, heavy weather ; but 

 I have never seen or heard of their breeding here (Swellendam). 

 They remain here after the winter has set in. Sometimes I have 

 seen them roost on trees at the bottom of my garden, where I 

 shot the specimen sent.' " (E. L. L.) 



6. HiRUNDO DiMiDiATA, Suudcv. I. c. ; Grill, /. c. p. 36. 



The supposed identity of this species with the H. leucosoma of 

 Western and Southern Africa (Sundev.) remains still very doubt- 

 ful. The white markings on the wings and tail are different. 



"This Swallow is very rare in the neighbourhood of Cape 

 Town, but becomes more common towards the mainland. Writing 

 from Cape Town, it will be as well to treat of this peninsula as 

 apart from the continent. The vast tract of sand called the 

 ' Cape Flats,' together with Table Bay on the one hand and False 

 Bay on the other, quite shut it off from the main land, so to speak ; 

 and to aid in the isolation, the main land ends in an abrupt 

 precipituous wall of mountains, which are only to be passed in 

 one or two places. Doubtless the peninsula of Table Mountain 

 was once an island entirely cut off from the main land, and 

 ' Table ' and ' False Bays ' part of a strait between. As soon as 

 the hills are reached on the opposite side of Table Bay, this 

 Swallow commences; and at Swellendam, Mr. Cairncross writes, 

 ' it is very common, and builds its nest generally under the thatch 

 of an old mill or stable, where it is quieter than in a dwelling- 

 house ; it lays a small white egg ; and tradition says it drives 

 the Sparrow and House Swallow {H. capensis ?) from their nests, 

 occupies them, and breeds therein. For this reason it receives 

 no mercy from the farmer, but its eggs and young are destroyed 

 whenever met with.' " (E. L. L.) 



