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CYPSELUS UNICOLOE. 



(MADEIRAN SWIFT.) 



Cyjiselus murarius, Heineken, in Brewst. Journ. p. 232 (1829, nee Wolf). 

 Cypselus unicolor, Jard. Edinb. Journ. of Nat. & Geogr. Sc. i. p. 242, pi. vi. (1830). 



Andorhina da serf a, Portuguese. 



Figures notabiles. 

 Jardine, I. c. ; Jardine & Selby, 111. of Orn. ii. pi. 83. 



cJ Cypselo apodi similis, sed minor, corpore nigricanti-fuliginoso, in corpore supra vix viridi nitente : gula 

 pallidiore, abdomine leviter fusceseente albido fasciato : cauda, valde furcata. 



Adult Male (Madeira, 27th June). In coloration resembling Cypselus apus, but considerably smaller in 

 size, having a more deeply forked tail, and on the underparts of the body slightly barred with dull 

 brownish white ; throat but little lighter than the rest of the underparts ; bill, feet, and iris as in 

 Cypselus apus. Total length about 5-5 inches, gape 0'6, wing 5 - 8, tail 3-1, outermost rectrices 105 

 longer than the central ones, tarsus 0'4. 



Adult Female (Teneriffe) . Undistinguishable from the male. 



This is certainly one of the rarest of the Swifts, being met with only in the islands off the west 

 coast of Africa, and thus only just comes within the limits of the Western Palsearctic Eegion. It 

 occurs commonly at Madeira and on the Canaries ; and Messrs. Webb and Berthelot (Orn. Can. 

 p. 24) say that they found it common on Teneriffe, and when they had ascended the Peak of 

 Teneriffe they observed that numbers were flying over the crater, apparently undisturbed by the 

 clouds of warm sulphurous vapour which were rising continually into the air. They feed on 

 Arachnidse, of the genus Phalangium, which are found in that locality. Mr. F. DuCane Godman 

 (Ibis, 1872, p. 170) says that it appears to be equally common with the Pallid Swift both in 

 Madeira and the Canaries, where it frequents chiefly the high land, while its congener is most 

 abundant near the sea, whence the latter has received the name of "Andorhina do mar," while 

 the former is called "Andorhina da serra." Dr. C. Bolle says (J. f. O. 1857, p. 323) that he saw 

 them sailing above the town of Santa Cruz on the 16th February and throughout the spring, 

 but not in large numbers. On the 10th March, whilst walking on the coast near the castle of 

 Paso, in the dusk of the evening, he saw and heard a pair which were flying round the rugged 

 cliffs like Bats, every now and then dropping like a stone nearly to the surface of the sea, and 

 suddenly rising again. He remarks that in bad weather he has seen them flying quite low like 

 Swallows, and that their note is wild and harsh, but not so shrill as that of C. apus. " It is 

 nowhere wanting," he says, " in Teneriffe and Canaria, and may be seen sailing over the fir-groves 

 of Chasna and Higueste, and especially numerous on the Cumbra of Canaria, where it frequents 



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