Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal. 303 



through nature that in many instances it overcomes every 

 other. It has surprised me to meet with the Swift circling 

 about in flocks over the summit of our higher mountains. 

 One woukl think that the high winds usually prevalent 

 there would have blown away any few insects which might 

 rise so higli. 



It is possible that Cypselus pallidus may also be found in 

 this country. 



112. Cypselus melba (Linn.). 



On April IGth^ 1884^ I saw two Alpine Swifts flying about 

 near the old Moorish castle at Silves^ and on the 22nd two 

 more near Monchique, Algarve ; and on the 28th I received 

 a specimen from Alpiar9a, near Santarem, obtained at Alco- 

 ba^a. In the Lisbon Museum there are a few specimens 

 from the bathing- village of Nazareth. From Alpiar9a I am 

 informed that when the brushwood on the commons is fired 

 in August, a large Swift ^dth a white belly appears and snaps 

 up the grasshoppers and other insects which fly from the 

 flames and smoke. It is not seen there at other times. In 

 the north of Portugal I have never observed this species. 



113. Caprimulgus EUROPiEUSj Linn. ^' Noitibo," in many 

 provinces ; " Boas noites/^ Oporto and Alto Douro ; " Ca 

 vai," Abrantes ; " Piuta cega," Mogadouro, Alto Douro. 



The Nightjar is a summer visitant to Portugal. Common 

 on the banks of the river Douro^ and may be seen hawking 

 for insects over the surface of the water near Melres ; scarcer 

 near Oporto. 



It is pretty common on passage in autumn about the 

 woods at the mouth of the Douro. On the evening of Sep- 

 tember 28th^ 1883, I saw one of these birds pass over the 

 sand of the seashore from north to south in a pretty straight 

 course, with the usual flitting from side to side. I have met 

 with it in the Alto Douro and at Abrantes. No doubt it is 

 generally distributed in such an insect-abounding country 

 as this. 



114. Caprimulgus ruficollis, Temm. 



There is a single specimen of the Red-necked Nightjar in 

 the Lisbon INIuseum, obtained in the neighbourhood. 



