127 



ALPINE SWIFT. 



WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. 



Cypselus alpinus, SELBY. JENYXS. 



Cypselus A Martlet. Alpinus Of or belonging to alpine places. 



THIS Swift is found throughout Europe in Spain, France, 

 Switzerland, Italy, Sardinia, Malta, Greece, and the Archipelago; 

 it is also believed to be a native of Africa, and probably of 

 Asia Minor. It is considered as excellent for the table. 



Several of these birds have been met with of late years in 

 these islands: One was shot in the beginning of June, 1820, 

 at Kingsgate, in the Isle of Thanet, Kent; a second near 

 Buckenham Church, Norfolk, in the middle of September, 

 1831; a third was picked up dead near Saffron Walden, in 

 in Essex, in July, 1838. Another of these birds, a fourth 

 recorded specimen, flew into a house, through a window, at 

 or near Dover, as I am informed by Edward Cole, Esq., of 

 llyther, and was captured on the 20th. of August, 1830; 

 a lif'tli was seen near Cambridge, by E. B. Fitton, Esq., on 

 the 26th. or 27th. of May, 1845. In Ireland, one was killed 

 early in March, 1833, at Rathfarnham, in the county of 

 Dublin ; and another was obtained off Cape Clear, at a distance 

 of some miles from land. 



Lassitude seems to be a word unknown to the vocabulary 

 of the Swallows. The Alpine Swift, if possible, exceeds the 

 Common Swift in velocity; ceaselessly chasing its prey in the 

 loity regions of the air, in the more rarefied state of the 

 atmosphere, and lower down in dull weaiher, and in the 

 evenings. It follows the chase as long as daylight lasts; but, 

 though its flight has been continued in the most rapid manner, 



