428 CYPSELUS 



Hob. The whole of Europe, north to 69, in winter migrating 

 down to S. Africa and Madagascar ; Asia as far east as Central 

 Asia, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. Essentially a bird of the air 

 it is really only at home when on the wing, and on the ground 

 is very helpless. 



It frequents old towns, ruins, steeples, and rocks, and its note 

 is a loud, harsh, prolonged screech or scream. It feeds entirely 

 on insects of various kinds, chiefly hymenoptera and diptera, 

 which it captures on the wing. Its flight is extremely rapid, 

 and is performed by quick flaps of its long wings, and long 

 glidings with the wings extended and seemingly motionless. 

 It breeds in a cranny in a cliff, an old building, or a hollow 

 tree, constructing a somewhat rude cup-shaped nest of straws 

 intermixed with small rootlets, feathers, moss, hair, or wool 

 glued together by a viscid mucous secretion which forms 

 abundantly in the gape of the bird. The eggs, 2 to 4 in 

 number, are usually deposited in June, and are pure white, 

 glossless, and elongated in shape, measuring about T02 by O67. 



611. SUBSP. CYPSELUS PEKINENSIS. 



Cypselas pekinensis, Swinhoe, P.Z.S. 1870, p. 435 : David and Oust. Ois. 

 Chine, p. 68 ; (Hartert) Cat. B. Br. Mus. xvi. p. 444. 



ad. (Siberia). Differs from C. opus only in being rather paler on tlie 

 upper parts, especially on tlie forehead, and to some extent also on the 

 tail. 



Hob. E. Siberia, Mongolia, eastern Central Asia, and China. 



Does not differ from C. apus in habits or iiidification except 

 that it nests in hollow trees as often as in rocks or buildings, 

 whereas C. apus seldom builds in hollow trees ; and its note 

 is said to.be softer. 



612. PALLID SWIFT. 

 CYPSELUS MURINUS. 



Cypselus murinus, Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 46 (1855) ; (Hartert) Cat. B. Br. 

 Mus. xvi. p. 446 ; C. pallidus, Shelley, Ibis, 1870, p. 445 ; Dresser, 

 iv. p. 597, pi. 268. 



Andorinho Africano, Portug. ; Avion, Span 



ad. (Spain)." Differs from C. apus in being dull soft mouse grey in 

 colour, rather paler on the forehead, and darker on the wings and tail ; 

 chin and upper throat whitish grey ; a black spot in front of the eye ; bill 

 black ; feet purplish brown ; iris brown. Culmen 0'3, gape 0'65, wing 64, 

 tail 2-7, tarsus 0'45 inch. 



