SWIFT SWALLOW. 



97 



f^tout and brown : upper parts of the plumage 

 black, with a steel gloss: quills and tail obscure 

 black, the latter forked : under parts white : legs 

 brown : it lays its eggs in the hollows of trees 

 without any nest : fond of perching on dead trees. 



SWIFT SWALLOW. 

 (Hirimdo Velox.) 



Hi. 7ugra^ capite alis caudaque cceruleo nitente. 

 Black Swallow, with the head, wings, and tail, shining with 

 blue. 



Le Martinet velocifere. Le Vaill, Ois, d*Afric, 5. 1^7, ph24A* 

 y. 2. male. 



The velocity with which this species flies is 

 wonderful, going, according to Le Vaillant, at the 

 rate of one hundred toises in the space of five se- 

 conds; which rapidity, if continued for one minute 

 without alteration, would enable the bird to travel 

 the distance of half a league in that time. 



The whole plumage of this bird is black, chang- 

 ing to blue on the top of the head, the wings, 

 and the tail ; which latter is much forked, and is 

 nearly two inches shorter than the wings, when 

 the bird is at rest : the eyes are reddish : the feet 

 and beak are brown. 



This species inhabits the forests, and builds in 

 trees in the country of Auteniquois, and the Cape 

 of Good Hope : it is small, measuring only four 

 inches in length, 



V. X. p. I. 7 



