observed at the Salvage Islands. 45 



moulted plumage of the immature bird, with the feathers of 

 the backj wings, and tail widely edged with buff, while in 

 the old birds these parts were in a much-worn condition. 

 Berthelot^s Pipit is a wonderfully graceful and active little 

 bird and closely resembles the Grey Wagtail in its move- 

 ments, as well as the mode in which it captures its insect- 

 prey. Its only note, so far as we heard, is a sharp, prolonged 

 chirp, much like that of the Meadow Pipit, and the bird was 

 never seen to mount into the air and give vent to a pro- 

 longed song like its allies. 



-/-5. HiRUNDO RUSTICA. 



Swallows arrived in great numbers during our stay, man}'", 

 no doubt attracted by the light, entering our men^s stone 

 hut after dark. One evening a regular flight of these birds 

 invaded their sleeping-quarters, and while clinging to the 

 rocky walls like a swarm of bees dozens were caught alive 

 and brought down to our camp in triumph. The Spanish 

 fisherman^s shirt is always used as a *' poaching pocket," aad 

 it is marvellous the number of Petrels one man can manage 

 to stow away round his body. With the exception of a few 

 specially fine birds kept as specimens, the majority of the 

 Swallows were promptly liberated. 



6. Chelidon urbica. 

 ~-7. cotile riparia. 



Both House- and Sand- Martins were seen daily, and we 

 procured a few specimens of each. Twice during the early 

 morning I saw flights of the latter pass quite low over the 

 top of Great Salvage, travelling in a northerly direction. 



8. Cypselus murinus. 



9. Cypselus unicolor. 



According to Mr. Hartert the former of these is a sub- 

 species of the Common Swift (C. apus), and our specimens 

 bear out the distinguishing characters he mentions, being 

 much paler and having the white colour on the throat more 

 extended. But we cannot see that there is any difiference in 

 size, for the wing in specimens from Tenerifi"e and Great 

 Salvage measures 6'6 inches, which is the average measure- 



