HIRUNDINID^. 51 



76. Oypselus Caffer, Licht. ; Gyp. Pygargus, 

 Temm,, PI. Col. 460, 461; Oypselus Leucothea; G. 



■ Leucorrhous, Steph. ; Hirundo Nigra, Vieil. ; Le 

 Martinet d croupion blanc, Le Vail, PI. 244. 



Back bluish-black ; wings and tail shining brown ; head 

 same colour as wings, lighter on the forehead. Throat and 

 rump white ; under side of body colour of the back. Length, 

 6" 9'"; wing, 5" 9'"; tail, 2" 6'". 



This species can be easily distinguished from C. Apus, even on the 

 wing, by its smaller size and conspicuous white rump. It is con- 

 stantly in company witli it and C. Melha ; and indeed the former 

 is rarely seen in any number without being mixed with it. 



It is more domestic than the other swifts, breeding fieely under the 

 verandahs of houses in the city, and occupying almost every porch in 

 the isolated farm-houses scattered over the country. It usually takes 

 possession of the nests of Hirundo Capensis, driving out the rightful 

 owners. Its eggs, generally four or five in number, are pure white, 

 and singularly shaped, the small end rounding off very suddenly, as if 

 truncated : axis, 1" ; diam., 1'". 



I am convinced from the account given by Le Vaillant of the 

 habits of his Martinet a croupion blanc (No. 244, Ois. d' Aff.), that 

 this is the bird aUuded to by him, though he only describes it as 

 having the sides of the rump white. Probably he put off, like many 

 others have done, obtaining a specimen of this common bird, thinking 

 to do so at any time, came away without one, and subsequently 

 described from memory. 



77. Oypselus Velox, Cuv., Voi. 2, p. 59 ; Le 



Martinet Velocifer, Le Vail., 244, f. 2 ; Hirundo 

 Velox, Vieil. 



Entirely of a blue black ; the tail very forked, and the 

 wings long, projecting nearly two inches beyond the tail 

 when at rest. 



This small swift, according to Le Vaillant, is found on the eastern 

 side of the colony during the winter. He did not find its nest, and 

 beheves that it is only a migratory visitant. It frequents forests, and 

 retires for the night into hollow trees. It never, however, perches 

 on the branches, although he so figures it, and its flight is extremely 

 rapid. 



No collector has ever seen this little swift, and it is very doubtful 

 if it ever existed, except in Le Vaillant's fervid imagination. He pro- 

 bably saw the forest-loving Hirundo holomelas, and failing to obtain 

 it, manufactured from it " Le martinet velocifere." Mr. Atmore writes : 

 "I have looked in vain for C Velox, and believe it to be a myth. 

 Nothing like it is to be seen in the country traversed by Le Vaillant, 

 but the common black swallow CH- Holomelas), which I found breed- 

 ing in holes in banks. Had C. Velox been there I think I must have 

 seen it.'' 



