ALPINE SWIFT. 
409 
islands of the Mediterranean, particularly in rocky 
and alpine situations. Its claim to a place in the 
British list rests on a few specimens having been 
at different times captured on the shores of our 
islands. The first notice of its occurrence was 
communicated by Mr Sinclair of Belfast to Mr 
Selby ; this bird was killed in March a few 
miles off Cape Clear by the captain of a 
vessel. It has occurred in one or two instances 
since attention was directed to it, and the orni- 
thologists of Ireland seem to be of opinion that 
it may breed in limited numbers about the 
cliffs on some part of the Irish coast ; the clefts 
and holes in rocks being its usual places of 
nidification. The alpine Swift is much superior 
in size to our common species ; in length, to the 
extremity of the forked tail, it is about eight 
inches and a quarter, while the wing, from the 
shoulder, measures fully nine. Above, the 
plumage is of a light grayish black, glossed with 
green ; this extends over the cheeks and sides of 
the neck, and across the breast, in the form of a 
broad band, leaving the throat, the belly, and 
breast, pure white ; on the quills the shade is 
slightly darker. In the female, the pectoral band 
is less distinct. 
