CYPSELIN.E. 85 



Above, the whole plumage glossy green-black, except the 

 rump, which is pure white, and the upper tail-coverts which are 

 also white, the outermost being tipped black ; the throat, cheeks, 

 and breast pale grey, gradually passing into black on the sides 

 of the body ; belly and under tail -coverts pure white. 



Tickell was the first naturalist who observed this species, and he 

 states that, in Central India, " it haunts open cultivated grounds 

 in the midst of forest ; also the cleared patches on the sides 

 and summits of hills," 



SUB-FAMILY, Cypselinae. 



Bill very small, much hooked ; wings excessively long and 

 pointed ; tail usually short, often feathers only; hind- toe directed 

 inward but reversible to the front. 



GENUS, Cypsellus, Ittiger* 



Wing, with the first quill equal to the second, or the second 

 longest ; tail emartrinate, or forked ; tarsus feathered, in front at 

 all events ; toes and claws nearly equal, short, robust ; hallux 

 directed inwards and forwards, not opposable. 



Cypsellus melba, Lin. 



98. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 175 ; Butler, Deccan ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 379 ; Guzerat, Stray Feathers, VoL 

 III, p. 453 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 104. 



THE ALPINE SWIFT. 



Length, 9 ; expanse, 19*5 ; wing, 8'5 ; tail (moderately forked) 3.. 



Bill blackish ; irides deep-brown ; legs and toes livid-purple. 



Above wood- brown, glossed with purple on the back ; wings 

 somewhat darker ; beneath the chin, throat, and abdomen white ; 

 a wide pectoral band brown ; sides of the rump, tarsal plumes, 

 and under tail -co verts also brown. 



The Alpine Swift only occurs as a somewhat rare cold weather 

 visitant to most parts of the region, but is rather more common 

 in the more hilly districts. 



Gypsellus apus, Lin. 



99. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 177 ; Murray's Vertebrate- 



Zoology of Sind, p. 105. 



THE EUROPEAN SWIFT. 



Length, 7; extent, 15'5; wing, 6'25 ; tail, 2*62. 



The whole plumage, except the chin and throat, which are 

 white, glossy brown-black ; the tail is rather more forked than 

 in the last; and the wings extend two inches beyond the tail. 



The European Swift only occurs as a cold weather visitant 

 to some parts of Sind. It has not been recorded from any other 

 portion of the district. 



