BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 147 



about eight inches. The female is same in colour as the 

 male. The young are browner, and dullish white on the 

 chin and throat. 



Mbite^belliefc Swift. 



THE White-bellied Swift {Cypselus melba> Linnaeus) is a rare 

 spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. In summer 

 it visits Central and Southern Europe, also Northern 

 Africa, spending the winter in Africa. The adult has the 

 upper parts greyish-brown ; forehead, paler, with a blackish 

 patch in front of the eye; throat and abdomen, white; under 

 tail-coverts, greyish -brown; irides, nearly black; bill and 

 feet, black. Length, about eight inches. The young are 

 similar to the adults, but have whitish margins to most of 

 the upper feathers. 



