372 



PICARI.F,. 



f'VPSELID.E. 



CYPSErJD.F. 





Cypselus melba (Linnaeus*). 

 THE ALPINE SWIFT. 



Cypselm <ilplnus\. 



At least eighteen examples of this Swift are now recorded 

 ms having been taken within the limits of the British Is- 

 lands ; the first of which was shot at sea eight or ten miles 

 from the south coast of Ireland about midsummer 1829, and 

 was sent by Mr. Sinclaire to Selby, as mentioned by him in 

 1831 (Edinb. Journ. Nat. and Geogr. Sc. n.s. iii. p. 170; 

 Trans. N. H. Soc. Northumb. i. p. 291). A second speci- 

 men, " since", according to Mr. Jenyns (Br. Vert. p. 160), 

 killed at Kingsgate in the Isle of Thanet, was seen by Mr. 

 Gould in 1832 (P. Z. S. 1832, p. 130), and, subsequently 

 passing into the possession of Mr. R. B. Hale, was lent by 

 him for the use of this work, the figure above inserted being 

 drawn from it.J According to Mr. E. P. Thompson (Notebook 



* II ir undo melba, Linnosus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 345 (1766). 



t Hvrvmdo alpina, Scopoli, Annus I. Historico-Naturalis, p. 166 (1769). 



+ In former editions of this work the bird was said to have been "shot early 



