1920.] Birds of Sovfheni Palestine. 233 



Apus apus. 



A. a. apus (L.). 



One was obtained on autuum passage at Belah on 30. vii., 

 where on that and the following day several flocks passed 

 south-west. No other Swifts were observed on autumn 

 passage. 



A. a. marioiizi Reichen. 



1 refer a bird shot on Mount Carniel on 13. iv. to this 

 race. AVing 175 mm. It is both paler and browner on 

 the head than typical specimens, but not quite so pale as 

 typical 'pekinensis. The bird agrees best with marwitzi from 

 the Caucasus and Asia Minor as regards its head and 

 forehead, but the chin is pure white. 



Swifts of some sort commenced their northward passage 

 in southern Palestine on IG.ii., though some were seen at 

 Jericho on 12. iii. and 15. iii., but it is not certain whether 

 the latter were not winter visitors or even residents. The 

 northward passage in the coastal area increased towards the 

 end of Mnrch. and continued to diminish throughout April, 

 the last passage migrant being seen on 5. v. 



Swifts bred at Kamleh, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. 



Apus melba. 



A. m. melba (L.). 



Two were obtained at Shellal from a party on passage 

 on 23. ix., and one on 4. x. at Rafa. These three speci- 

 mens are all females with wings measuring from 101 to 

 202 nnn. Their small size and the very much paler tint of 

 the upper parts is remarkable ; I can find nothing like them 

 in either the British or Tring Museums. 



The Alpine Swift is a summer visitor to southern Pales- 

 tine, arriving at the end of February and leaving from the 

 end of Septendjer to early October. It breeds in the 

 Mosque of Omar at Jerusalem, in the wilder ravines of the 

 Jordan Valley, and possibly on Mount Carmel, where birds 

 were seen on 22. iv. 



