ALPINE SWIFT. 409 



islands of the Mediterranean, particularly in rocky 

 and alpine situations. Its claim to a place in the 

 British list rests on a few specimens having been 

 at different times captured on the shores of our 

 islands. The first notice of its occurrence was 

 communicated by Mr Sinclair of Belfast to Mr 

 Selby ; this bird was killed in March a few 

 miles off Cape Clear by the captain of a 

 vessel. It has occurred in one or two instances 

 since attention was directed to it, and the orni- 

 thologists of Ireland seem to be of opinion that 

 it may breed in limited numbers about tha 

 cliffs on some part of the Irish coast ; the clefts 

 and holes in rocks being its usual places of 

 nidification. The alpine Swift is much superior 

 in size to our common species ; in length, to the 

 extremity of the forked tail, it is about eight 

 inches and a quarter, while the wing, from the 

 shoulder, measures fully nine. Above, the 

 plumage is of a light grayish black, glossed with 

 green ; this extends over the cheeks and sides of 

 the neck, and across the breast, in the form of a 

 broad band, leaving the throat, the belly, and 

 breast, pure white ; on the quills the shade is 

 slightly darker. In the female, the pectoral band 

 is less distinct. 



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