CYPSELIN^. 175 



hollow trees ?) immediately after sunset. This is contrary to my 

 observations of the last species at all events. I consider it very 

 probably also Pallas' bird, Hirundo ciris, which he introduces from 

 Steller's description, as occasionally found in Central Asia.* 



Gen. Cypselus, Illiger. 



Char. — Wing with the 1st quill equal to the 2nd, or the 2nd 

 longest ; tail eraarginate, or forked ; tarsus feathered, in front at all 

 events ; toes and claws nearly equal, short, robust ; hallux directed 

 inwards and forwards, not opposable. 



The toes of the true Swifts can all be brought forwards, or the 

 two inner ones can be turned backwards. They are found over 

 all the world, and vary a good deal in size. 



98. Cypselus melba, L. 



Hirundo, apud LiNN^us — H. alpina, ScoPOLi — Gould, Birds 

 of Europe, pi. 53 f. 2— Jeudon, Cat. 254— Blyth, Cat. 421.— 



The Alpine Swift. 



Descr. — Above wood brown, glossed with purple on the back ; 

 wings somewhat darker ; beneath, the chin, throat, and abdomen 

 white ; a wide pectoral band, brown ; sides of the rump, tarsal 

 plumes, and under tail coverts also brown ; bill blackish ; irides 

 deep brown ; legs and toes livid purple. 



Length 9 inches ; ext. 1 9i- ; wing 8^, reaching 2| inches beyond 

 the tail, which is 3 inches, moderately forked, the outer feathers 

 being about | inch longer than the centre ones ; weight 2^ oz. 



This fine Swift is not rare in the South of India, all along the 

 range of Western Ghats from Honore to Cape Comorin, extending its 

 daily flights often to the western sea coast, and occasionally 

 eastwards to Salem, Madura, and Madras even. At times they are 

 very abundant on the Neilgherries, and, during the cold weather, 

 may very generally be seen on the Malabar Coast. I saw, on 

 several occasions, large flocks of them flying eastward towards the 

 sea from the rocky hills near Madura about sunset. On another 



* An individual of this species was killed in England some years ago. 



