26 CYPSELIDa: CYPSELUS 



P. L. Sclater, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 600; Gurney, Ibis, 1865, p. 264 

 [Maritzburg] ; Layard, B. Afr. p. 51 (1867) ; Gurneij, Ibis, 1868, 

 pp. 50, 152 [Potohefstroom] ; Shelley, Ibis, 1875, p. 67 [Pinetown] ; 

 Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 92 (1875) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1882, 

 p. 242 [Umfuli B.] ; Butler, Feilden, and Beid, Zool. 1882, p. 206 

 [Newcastle] ; Ayres, Ibis, 1884, p. 222 [Potchefstroom] ; Shelley, B. 

 Afr. i, p. 105 (1896). 



Mioropus oaffer, Hartert, Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 450 (1892). 



Apus oaffer typious, Hartert, Tierreich, Fodarg. p. 87 (1897). 



Description. Adult. — Above, head, wings, and tail ashy-black, 

 some of the inner coverts and scapulars edged vyith almost pure 

 white ; centre of the back, upper tail-coverts and below, black with 

 a purplish-metallic gloss ; rump, chin, and throat white ; tail much 

 forked, the lateral rectriees elongated and attenuated. 



Iris and bill black ; feet dusky. 



Length about 6'5 ; wing 5-70 ; tail, central feathers 1-80, lateral 

 feathers 3-25 ; culmen 0-26 ; tarsus 0-35. 



Distribution. — This little Swift is found plentifully all over the 

 Colony, Natal, and the southern Transvaal, but appears to become 

 rare in Mashonaland, and is not included by Andersson among 

 the birds found in Damaraland. Beyond our limits this bird is 

 represented by a closely-allied species, only differing in its slightly 

 smaller size, found in the mountains of Abyssinia and the Bogos 

 country, and apparently wintering on the Congo. South African 

 localities are : Cape Colony — Cape Division, October to January 

 (S. A. Mus.), Stellenbosch, September (S. A. Mus.), Caledon, 

 October (Bt. Mus.), George (Layard), Knysna and Oudtshoorn 

 (Victorin), Grahamstown, August (Layard), and Peddie, January 

 (S. A. Mus.), Orange Eiver near Aliwal North (Whitehead) ; Natal — 

 Umgeni near Durban, October to February (Millar), Pinetown 

 (Shelley), Maritzburg, December (Ayres), Newcastle, October 

 (Butler) ; Transvaal — Potchefstroom (Ayres) ; Ehodesia — Umfuli 

 Eiver (Ayres). 



Habits. — This little Swift appears to be a partial migrant, being 

 observed, as a rule, only during the summer (October to March) 

 in its best known haunts, but more observations are required to 

 determine its exact movements. It is a tamer and more domestic 

 bird than most of its congeners, resting about houses and showing 

 little or no fear of man. Its flight is not so rapid as is that of the 

 Black Swift. This bird appears to appropriate for its own use the 

 nest of a Swallow (usually Hirundo cucullata) under an eave or 

 verandah, and drives off the rightful owner ; four to five eggs are 



