2 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus APUS Scop. 



Apus Scopoli, Introd. Hist. Nat., p. 483 (1777 — Type by tautonymy : 

 Hirundo apus L.)* 



Appearance generally like that of a Swallow, but structure 

 widely different (see descr. of Order). Skin very thick, feathers 

 hard and smooth. Tarsus short and thickly feathered, all four 

 toes bare and directed forwards. Tail more or less forked or 

 emarginated. Mouth very wide, very deeply cleft. No rictal 

 bristles. Nest in holes in rocks, buildings, or trees. Many species, 

 six in Palsearctic region, of which only one breeds in British Isles, 

 one other a rare straggler. 



Key to species of genus Apus. 



Larger, wings over 200 mm., underside white .... A. melba, p. 2 

 Smaller, wings under 200 mm., underside black . . . A. apus, p. 4 



APUS MELBA 



2ii. Apus melba melba (L.)— THE ALPINE SWIFT. 



Hirundo Melba Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 192 (1758 — Gibraltar). 

 Cypselus melba (Linnaeus), Yarrell, n, p. 372 ; Saunders, p. 263. 



Description. — Adult male and female. 



Winter and summer. — Whole upper - 



parts mouse -brown (varying somewhat 



individually in shade of colour), each 



feather lightly tipped greyish -white 



(more noticeable in fresh plumage and 



disappearing by abrasion) ; patch of 



feathers in front of eye and narrow 



line over eye tipped blackish ; sides of 



chin and throat, ear-coverts, sides of 



neck and band across upper -breast 



mouse-brown, feathers tipped white ; 



chin, centre of throat, lower-breast 



and belly white, feathers with very fine The Alpine bwlft {Apm m - mdba) ' 



orown-black shafts ; flanks, under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts 



and axillaries mouse -brown with rather prominent white tips ; 



* The name Apus is rejected by many writers, being considered as pre- 

 occupied by Apos of the same author, in the same little book, p. 404, for a 

 genus of Crustaceans. As Scopoli must have known the small number of 

 genera in his book, which is written in Latin, excluding the possibility of 

 an error of transcription, we must suppose that he purposely made the two 

 different names, so as to distinguish them, and must adopt the oldest name 

 also in this case. If Apus is rejected, the next name Micropus Meyer and 

 Wolf 1810 must be used.— E.H. 



