124 [A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
WHITE-BELLIED OR ALPINE SWIFT. 
Cypselus M€lba (Zzxzn.) 
Adult: Above dark greyish-brown, paler on forehead, 
feathers before the eye blackish ; dexeath white, except chest, a 
few of flank feathers and under tail-coverts, which are dvowz ; 
bill and feet black ; irides very dark brown. Length 8 inches ; 
culmen 0°4; wing 8°7 to 9°2; tail 3°75; tarsus 0°6. 
Young: Like adults but greyer, most of dark feathers mar- 
gined with whitish. 
Distribution : Summer visitant to Central and Southern 
Europe as well as in Northern Africa, wintering in Southern 
Africa. 
Habitat: Usually in more elevated districts than C. apus. 
Family CAPRIMULGID. 
Genus CAPRIMULGUS. 
NIGHTJAR. “ 
Caprimulgus europzeus £7771. 
Adult Male: Above ashy-grey, darker on centre of back 
and on the rump paler ; whole of upper parts vermiculated and 
richly streaked with blackish (especially on crown) ; wings dark 
brown, slightly shaded with chestnut, crossed by sandy- 
coloured bars; three first primaries with subterminal spot of 
white ; tail like the back ; ¢zwo outermost rectrices on either side 
broadly tipped with white; beneath pale orange-buff barred, 
especially on throat and chest, with dusky, on either side of 
throat a white spot ; bill black ; legs and feet reddish-brown ; 
irides black. Length ro inches ; culmen 0°33 wing 7 to 7°75; 
tags ee vtarsus:o"7. : 
Adult Female: Resembles the male, but the wing and tail 
spots are pale buff. 
Young: Very similar to adults. 
Distribution: Summer visitant to the Western Palearctic 
region, migrating to Central Africa in autumn. 
