GREAT SENEGAL SWALLOW. 73 



Good Hope (Ois. d'Af. 5, pi. 245, fig. 1), that we 

 were at first almost tempted to believe it was the 

 same, particularly as Le Vaillant forgets to give 

 us the size of his bird, an omission which all the 

 compilers since his days have perpetuated. It ap- 

 pears, however, that the Cape species has a small 

 white spot on the inner web of all the lateral tail- 

 feathers, excepting that which is elongated, and 

 that the feathers of the vent have a black stripe 

 down the middle of each. 



As nothing is known of the habits or economy of 

 this bird, although it appears by no means uncom- 

 mon, we have only to describe its plumage. It 

 certainly requires being figured, for the representa- 

 tion in the plates of Buffon is exceedingly rude. 



The upper part of the head is covered with a cap 

 of glossy blue-black, so narrow at the nape, that it 

 is barely united to the black of the interscapulars : 

 within the margin of this, just before the eye, is a 

 slender rufous stripe, and another of brown un- 

 glossed black beneath; the usual space, however, 

 between the eye and bill is nearly white; the in- 

 terscapulars, upper part of the back, the wings, and 

 the tail, are glossy blue-black; but the lower half 

 of the back, so far as the first range of tail-covers, 

 is bright rufous ; the sides of the nape and upper 

 neck are also of the same bright tint ; the chin, ears, 

 and throat are white tinged with rufous, which 

 latter colour becomes stronger and darker down- 

 wards, until it terminates on the under tail-covers. 

 The inner wing-covers and the thighs are pure 



