back; throat, white ; bill, black; toes, dusky; iris, dark hazel.
Total length, 7'5 inches; wing, 7'4 ; tail, 3-5 ; tarsus, 0'5.
Fig. Dresser, B. Bur. part xxxi.
87. C y pselus pal l id us . Pallid Swift.
This species is closely allied to the ordinary Swift, and was first distinguished
by Captain Shelley, who procured it in Egypt, and since
then it has been obtained in Morocco and Southern Spain by Colonel
Irby, and in Malta by Mr. C. A.. Wright. It arrives in Europe before
G. apus, and in South Africa, which is doubtless its winter home, it
seems to occupy a different area to the last-named species, for, whereas
G. apus goes right down to the Cape, G. pallidus has not yet been
noticed further south than Damara Land. Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor
possesses a specimen shot by the late Mr. Andersson at “ Nonnidas,
Swakop River,” on the 11th of December, 1863, and the British
Museum contains an example procured by Mr. Monteiro in Benguela,
where, according to the latter gentleman, it is “ common, building
its nest very commonly under the eaves of houses.” It should be
noted that Mr. Monteiro’s specimen differs in being uniform above
and below, though very pale in colour, and shews little or no throat-
patch. Prof. Barboza du Bocage mentions a Swift from Loanda,
which may possibly be the same as the Benguela bird; he was
inclined to consider his specimen undescribed, but Dr. Einsch
referred it to the Madeiran G. unicolor. It is, therefore, possible
that a further supply of specimens may shew the existence of
another species in S. W. Africa, but be that as it may, Mr. Taylor’s
bird is undoubtedly G. pallidus, and this is sufficient warrant for
our including it in the present work. His specimen measures :—
Total length, 6-7 inches; wing, 6'8 ; tail, 3-0 ; tarsus, 0-45.
G. pallidus may be described as being closely allied to G. apus
but smaller and paler, being pale brown or mouse-colour, with
generally indications of whitish edgings to the feathers.
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. part xxxv.
8 8 . Cy pse lus ca ffer . African white-rumped Swift.
This species can be easily distinguished from G. apus, even on the
wing, by its smaller size and conspicuous white rump. It is constantly
in company with it and G. melba; and indeed the former is
rarely seen in any number without being mixed with it.
It is more domestic than the other Swifts, breeding freely under
the verandahs of houses in the city, and occupying almost every
porch in the isolated farm-houses scattered over the country. I t
usually takes possession of the nests of Ilirundo cucullata, driving
out the rightful owners. Its eggs, generally four or five in number,
are pure white, and singularly shaped, the small end rounding off
very suddenly, as if truncated. Axis, 1"; diam. 7"'.
It seems to be distributed over the whole of South Africaf, beinaO1
found near Cape Town, where it arrives about the end of August.
In 1870, Mr. Thomas Atmore noticed its arrival near Grahams-
town at the end of August, and we observed it simultaneously at
Cape Town. Vlctorhi collected it in the Karroo in December and
at the Knysna in March and April, and again in October. In the
latter place Mr. Andersson also obtained the species. Specimens
have been sent to us from George by Mr. Harry Atmore, and his
brother, Mr. Thomas Atmore, has forwarded it from Eland’s Post.
Mr. Ayres writes concerning it in Natal, as follows “ I have not
seen these Swifts on the coast, neither have I observed them inland
during the winter months, but numbers were flying about Maritz-
burg in December. . . . Their flight is not nearly as rapid as
that of the Black Swift (0. apus).” Captain Shelley saw it occasionally
in considerable numbers near Pinetown. It is apparently
more plentiful in the interior, as Mr. Ayres writes :—“ I find these
Swifts very numerous in the Transvaal, much more so than in Natal.
In the town of Potchefstroom a pair have taken possession of a
deserted Swallow’s nest in one church, and another pair have located
themselves'in a similar manner in another part of the town, but
whether this is their usual ipethod'of finding suitable places to
breed in I cannot say.”
Mr. Gurney remarks The nidification of this Swift as
described by Mr. Layard, and as also noticed in the Transvaal by
Mr. Ayres, differs from its habits in this respect as observed in
Senaar by Dr. Vierthaler and his companion, who found it breeding
m holes about two feet in length and terminating in a basin. These
holes were pierced in a steep river-bank; and in one of them a
sitting-bird of this species was captured on her nest, which contained
three white eggs.”