CYPSELUS UNICOLOR, nobis. 

 Madeira Swiff. 



PLATE LXXXIII. 



C. corpore nigrescente-viridi, gula pallidiore, abdomine leviter fusco fasciato ; 

 longitudo corporis 61 pollices, alarum 6 pollices. 



Cypselus unicolor, Sir W. Jardine, Edin. Journ. Nat. &. Geog. Science, vol. i. p. 242. 



For the specimen made use of for the accompanying Plate, we are in- 

 debted to W. T. Carruthers of Dormont, who shot it in the neighbour- 

 hood of Funchal in Madeira. It is mentioned by Dr Heineken, in his 

 observations on the Birds of Madeira, printed in Dr Brewster's Journal, 

 with his account of the Common Swift, as probably differing, but without 

 any description. From that species it certainly differs, both in size, colour, 

 and habits, and we have been unable to find any described agreeing with 

 it. That to which it approaches nearest, is the Indian Swift of Latham. 

 In this, the size is not mentioned, and the tail is said to be scarcely forked : 

 in the present, the fork of the tail extends to one inch and a quarter. 



The whole plumage is a dull uniform black, with greenish reflections, of 

 a shade considerably deeper on the centre of the back ; the throat and up- 

 per part of the breast are slightly paler ) the belly and vent barred indis- 

 tinctly with fine white fasciae. It differs in its habits from the species of 

 this country, feeding lower, and hunting the outlets of the rivers like the 

 common swallow. The cry is nearly the same, but not so incessant as that 

 of C. murarius, and it is more abundant. 



