CYPSELID.E CYPSELUS 25 



Two eggs, oval in shape, rough in texture, and dead-white in 

 colour, are usually laid. Insects taken on the wing form the food 

 of this bird, and the indigestible portions are rejected in the form 

 of pellets. \ 



387. Cypselus barbatus. Black Swift. 



Cypselus barbatus, P. L. Sclater, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 599; Tristram, 

 "P. Z. S. 1867, p. 887 ; Finsch, Trans. Zool. Soc. vii, p. 214 (1870) ; 

 Gurnet/, in Ainlersson's B. Damar aland, p. 47 (1872); Shelley, B. 

 Aft: i, p. 105 (1896). 



Micropus barbatus, Hartert, Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 447 (1892). 

 Apus barbatus, Hartert, Tierreicli, Podarg. p. 86 (1897). 

 (Many of the references to the preceding species probably partly or 

 entirely refer to this present one). 



Description. Adult. Closely resembling C. apus, but distin- 

 guished by its somewhat larger size, its somewhat darker colour, 

 and by the very conspicuous and well developed shaft lines on its 

 somewhat dusky- white throat-patch. As a rule the feathers of the 

 flanks and abdomen retain the white edgings found only in the 

 young birds of the other allied species. 



Iris, bill, and legs black. 



Length about 7'5 ; wing 7-1 ; tail 3'0 ; tarsus 0-40 ; culmen 0-30. 



Distribution. This bird, though very closely resembling the 

 European species, appears to be resident in South Africa. It is 

 certainly the bird alluded to by Layard as being found round about 

 Cape Town between August and April, as is shown by examples in 

 the South African Museum. It appears, too, from the statements 

 of Ayres and Reid, that a brown Swift is found all the year round 

 in Natal; this is probably the present species, though it is quite 

 possible that the European form may also co-exist with it.* 



Habits. Captain Eeid believes that this species breeds in the 

 crevices of the rocky ravines near Newcastle, bub he does not 

 appear to have actually found the nests or eggs. In other respects 

 this species does not differ from the European one. 



388. Cypselus caffer. African Wliitc-rumpcd tiiuift. 



Martinet a croupioii blanc, Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. v, p. 146, pi. 244, 



fig. 1 (1806). 

 Cypselus caffer, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 58 (1823) ; Grill, K. Vet. AJcad. 



Handl. Stockh. ii, no. 10, p. 41 (1858) [Knysna and Oudtshoorn] ; 



* An example from Port St. John in Pondoland, shot in January, has recently 

 been sent to the South African Museum. 





