The Alpine Swift. 



Familv—CYPSlilJDAi. 



The Alpine Sw 



Cypselus vielba, LiNN. 



SEEBOHM gives the following as the distribution of this species: — "breeds 

 in the alpine districts of Europe south of the Baltic, in the Ural Mountains 

 its range extending up to lat. 55", South of the Mediterranean it breeds in the 

 mountains of North Africa and Abyssinia. Eastwards its range extends through 

 Asia Minor, Palestine, West Turkestan, the West Himalayas, and the mountain 

 ranges of West India and Ceylon. In Abyssinia, India, and Ceylon, it is said to 

 be a resident ; but further north it is only a summer visitor, leaving in autumn 

 to winter in Damara Land, the Cape Colony, and Natal. In the cold season it is 

 occasionally seen in most parts of India as far east as Calcutta ; and it has 

 occurred more or less accidentall}^ on migration in Denmark, Heligoland, and 

 various parts of the plains of Germanj^ as far north as Berlin." Messrs. Butler, 

 Feilden, and Reid (Zoologist, 1882, p. 206) express their conviction that this species 

 breeds in South Africa, Capt. Reid having shot a female with eggs ver3- muc"h 

 enlarged on the Incandu River : as specimens were seen in August, November, 

 and April, it would almost seem as if this species might be resident in the South. 



In the British Islands the iirst recognized specimen of the Alpine Swift was 

 shot off the South coast of Ireland ; several others have since been obtained from 

 the same island, -whilst in England about a score have occurred, but in Scotland 

 hitherto it has not been met with. 



This species has the upper parts, a broad belt across the breast, the flanks, and 

 under tail-coverts mouse-brown, the back and tail with a slight purple -gloss ; lores 

 blackish ; chin, throat, and abdomen pure white : bill and feet black ; iris deep 

 brown. The sexes are alike in plumage. The young have well-defined pale 

 margins to the feathers, rather more white on the throat, and dark shaft-lines to 

 all the white feathers. In the autumn the plumage is deeper in colour, and in 

 spring it is said to become iridescent.* 



* Seebolim claims that the Swifts moult twice in the j-ear, ou (as it seems to mei very slender evidence, 

 viz :— That two examples of this species in his collection shot on the 3rd August and 12th April respectively 

 are 'moulting' a quill-feather in each wing. Naumauu states positively that they only moult once. 



