48 BIRDS OF DAMABA LAND. 



[Dr. Tristram, in his paper in the Zoological Society's ' Pro- 

 ceedings/ already alluded to under the head of Cypselus gutturalis, 

 also describes the distinguishing differences between the Black 

 Swift of Europe and that of South Africa. These, though 

 slight, appear to be constant ; but at the same time the specific 

 value of the distinction must probably remain in abeyance until 

 a larger number of specimens have been obtained for comparison 

 than have as yet been made available for that purpose. I am 

 not aware that the South-African Black Swift has yet been 

 figured; and in the opinion of Dr. Finsch, loc. cit., the South- 

 African bird is merely the young of C. apus ; but if so, it seems 

 singular that only the immature birds should migrate so far 

 south. — Ed.J 



60. Cypselus parvus, Lioht. Little African Swift. 



Cypselus ambrosiacus, Temm. in PL Ool. pi. 460. fig. 2. 

 Cypselus 2}ariHis, Sclater, in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 601. 

 Cotyle ambrosiaais, Layard's Cat. No. 92. 

 Cypselus parvus, Sharpe's Cat. No. 13. 



I observed this species at Ondonga, where I found it 

 pretty common. At the end of February these Swifts 

 appeared to be nesting, as they were seen in pairs, 

 and a male and female were both shot with feathers 

 in their bills. The flight of this species is generally 

 lofty. 



The iris is dark brown, the legs and feet brown, and 

 the bill black. 



Measurements of two males : — 



in- lin- in. lin. 



Entire length of one 6 4 . . of the other 6 3 



Length of folded wing . . . „ 6 4 . 6 4 



„ tarsus „ 5.. „' 04 



„ middle toe ... „ 03.. „ 03 



» tail „ 3 6.. „ 36 



n WU „ 7.. „ 07 



