Ornithology of Cyprus. 25 



616. Cypselus melba (Linn.). 



The Alpine or White-bellied Swift was — as was C. apus — - 

 recognised by Sibthorp as a summer visitor to Cyprus. 



It was observed by Lord Lilford on several occasions during 

 his visit " high in the air " near the sea : Muller mentions 

 an adult female taken in spring : Guillemard found a few 

 examples at Lefconiko at the end of April 1887, and 

 recorded it as early as February 26th at Kouklia, in 1888, 

 while at the end of March in the same year he met with it 

 nesting in inaccessible places near the ruins of Kantara 

 Castle. 



It does not seem to have been obtained by Glaszner. 



This species is a fairly common spring and autumn visitor 

 to the island and probably nests annually in a few suitable 

 places. My first note of its appearance is on March the 29th, 

 1908, when it was observed at Papho by Mr. Baxendale ; 

 from the 30th of March to the 28th of May, 1909, 

 Mr. Baxendale and Horsbrugh met with it more or less 

 frequently in various parts of the island and obtained a 

 considerable number of specimens. I have never seen it at 

 Nicosia nor did any of us find it breeding. It was parti- 

 cularly common near the Acheritou and Kouklia reservoirs. 

 I have no definite autumn records of its appearance on 

 migration or of the leaving of those which breed, but I 

 presume its general departure must take place about the 

 beginning of September. 



618. Caprimulgus euroPjEus Linn. 



The Nightjar is a regular and not uncommon visitor on 

 the spring and autumn migrations, and although I am not 

 aware that it has yet been discovered nesting in the island, 

 I should think it quite probable that a few individuals do so. 

 The species was recognised by Sibthorp, and Lord Lilford 

 found it in great numbers close to the sea in the Karpas 

 District in the last week of April 1875 ; these had evidently 

 just arrived, as many declined to move until actually touched. 

 He also met with a few elsewhere in the island, but was 

 informed by the inhabitants that not only did the Nightjar 

 not breed in Cyprus, but that it did not lay eggs at all, being 



