CYPSELUS CAFFER. 93 
stantly in company with it and C. melba; and indeed the former is 
rarely seen in any number without being mixed with it. 
It is more domestic than the other Swifts, breeding freely 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 Hirwndo cucullata, 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. 7’’’. 
It seems to be distributed over the whole of Sonth Africa, being 
found near Cape Town, where it arrives about the end of August. 
In 1870, Mr. Thomas Atmore noticed its arrival near Grahams- 
town at the end of August, and we observed it simultaneously at 
Cape Town. Victorin collected it in the Karroo in December and 
at the Knysna in March and April, and again in October. In the 
latter place Mr. Andersson also obtained the species. Specimens 
haye been sent to us from George by Mr. Harry Atmore, and his 
brother, Mr. Thomas Atmore, has forwarded it from Eland’s Post. 
Mr. Ayres writes concerning it in Natal, as follows:—‘I have not 
seen these Swifts on the coast, neither have I observed them inland 
during the winter months, but numbers were flying about Maritz- 
burg in December. . . . Their flight is not nearly as rapid as 
that of the Black Swift (C. apus).” Captain Shelley saw it occa- 
sionally in considerable numbers near Pinetown. It is apparently 
more plentiful in the interior, as Mr. Ayres writes :—“ I find these 
Swifts very numerous in the Transvaal, much more so than in Natal. 
In the town of Potchefstroom a pair have taken possession of a 
deserted Swallow’s nest in one church, and another pair have located 
themselves in a similar manner in another part of the town, but 
whether this is their usual method of finding suitable places to 
breed in I cannot say.” 
Mr. Gurney remarks:—“ The nidification of this Swift as 
described by Mr. Layard, and as also noticed in the Transvaal by 
Mr. Ayres, differs from its habits in this respect as observed in 
Senaar by Dr. Vierthaler and his companion, who found it breeding 
in holes about two feet in length and terminating in a basin. These 
holes were pierced in a steep river-bank; and in one of thema 
sitting-bird of this species was captured on her nest, which con- 
tained three white eggs.” 
