46 Mr. W. 11. Ogilvie Grant on Birds 



ment in C. ajms. This Swift was pretty numerous and 

 constantly seen wheeling backwards and forwards amongst 

 the rocks near the top of the island, in company with the 

 second species [C. unicolor), which was, however, com- 

 paratively scarce, and easily distinguished on the wing by 

 its much smaller size and darker colour. 



10. Caphimulgus europ^us. 



On our second visit to the Great Piton a Goatsucker rose 

 from among some sandy ground, and was shot by our taxi- 

 dermist, Mr. Gronvold. It proves an interesting bird, and 

 belongs to the small race of C. euro'paius, which ranges as far 

 south as Damaraland in winter, and is also met with in 

 Spain and Algeria (see Koeuig, J. f. O. 1895, pp. 176-178). 

 Mr. Hartert has kindly gone into the matter with me, and 

 we find that our bird is scarcely separable from C umvini, 

 being of the same dimensions, and only differing in the 

 somewhat darker tone of the upper parts. As regards 

 colour, it is perfectly similar to the typical C. europceus 

 from Europe and the British Isles ; but it is much smaller. 

 Though we have provisionally included it under this 

 heading, it is quite possible that Mr. Hartert, who is at 

 present engaged on a careful revision of the Goatsuckers, 

 may find sufficient reasons for regarding it either as a 

 distinct subspecies, or a darker western form of the sub- 

 species C. unwitii. 



The following measurements will show how it differs from 



typical C. euroj)(Eus in size : — 



Wing. Tail. 



in. in. 



Typical C. ettropceus 7'6-7-9 5-5-5-7 



f c5' ad. Damaraland 7*15 4-7 (moulting). 



Small J J ad. Great Piton 7-15 5-1 



race. ' j J ad. Spain 7"25 5-5 



[^ d ? ad. Algeria {e.v Koenig) 6-9-7-3 4-7-5-5 



11. TURTUK COMMUNIS. 



We procured a Common Turtle Dove on the Great Piton, 

 and saw a pair on Great Salvage ; startled by a shot they 

 dashed from a hole in the face of the cliffs, and disappeared 

 over the top, far out of shot. 



