‘ 4 '
¡1
bird of the two. It may be recognized by the velvety black of the back, this bein<^
glossy green in P. obscura of West Africa. °
This is probably the “ Martinet vdlocifere ” of Levaillant’s ‘ Oiseaux d’Afrique ’
{v. p. 147, ph 244. fig. 2), named by Vieillot Ilirundo vclox (N. Diet. xiv. p. 533). As
Professor Sundevall has already pointed out in his critique on Levaillant’s work (Krit.
Pramst. LevailL p. 51) there is uo kuowu Swift which answers to the description given
by tbe French traveller, and it is probable that he saw this Swallow in South Africa aud
drew the figure from memorv.
In the Cape Colony it appears to bo resident at least for the greater part of the
year. The late Mr. C. J. Andersson met with it at tbe Knysna in January; Victorin
procured it there iu Marcli and April, and again from July to Kovember. In other
parts ot tbe Colony it may be more or less migratory, as Mr. L. C. Layard notices its
arrival at Grootevadersbosch, in tbe Svvelleudam district, on tbe 5tli of September. This
seems to be the most easterly range recorded for the species.
Mr. E. L. Layard writes " This little Swallow first fell under our notico ou tbe
Keurboom’s River, Knysna district, where we saw it appareutly breeding iu boles in the
banks, but were unable to investigate its doings more closely. ’ We found it abundantly
in tbe forest, hawking after flies over pools, frequently dipping into tbe water, and
perching on the overhanging boughs in clusters of six or eight, to dry thomselves. Their
habit of perching is noted by Mr. Cairnoross, who w r i t e s ‘ This bird flies about very
mucb like a bat (this resemblance also occurred to us when we saw it), amongst thick
forests, and is generally more visible in rainy, heavy weather; but I have never seen or
hoard of their breeding here (Swellendam). They remain here after tbo winter bas set
in. Sometimes I have seen them roost on trees at tbe bottom of my garden, where I
shot the specimen sent.’ ”
Mr. Layard also states that it is found tbrongbout tbo wooded districts of the
Eastern province. He saw it near Grahamstown, the Kowie, Eisli lliver bush, &c. In
the British Museum is a nestling obtained by Mr. E. 0. Rickard at Bat’s Cove, near
East London, in December, showing that tlie species breeds in that neighbourhood
during the latter month. Captain Trevelyan has also procured it iu the Peri bush near
Xingwilliamstown.
Mr. Thomas Ayres says that in Natal this species is common all the year round, but
be thinks not immediately on the coast. “ They are generally to bo seen two or tliree
together, searching for insects about tbe bushy valleys, and occasionally, tboun-b not
often, alighting to rest on some dead bough. Their food consists of minute beettes and
other insects.”
Captain Shelley, during bis three months’ trip to South Africa, found the present
species very plentiful about Pinetown, and occasionally to bo met with at Durban. It
is a woodland bird, usually seen in small flocks, often perching on boughs on tbe shady
side of large trees. They appear to avoid tbe glare of tho midd,ay sun, feeding mostly
in tbe evening, often long after sunsot. Mr. T. Ayres noticed tbe species in the Lyden-
!7 ‘t
burg district of the Eastern Transvaal; and Mr. F. A. Barratt procured specimens at
Bustenburg and Macamao, where he says the species was rather scarce, and the ones
obtained were shot by him as they flew up aud down in the open spaces in the forest.
Nothing further is known of tbe range of tbe species in South Africa, but it appears
in the Zanzibar district in Eastern Africa, as Sir John Kirk sent a specimen from
Mambolo to Captain Shelley, who has kindly allowed us to examine it, and there can be
uo doubt that it is identical’ with the Soutli-Afrioan species. Dr. Fischer has likewise
procured a specimen at Maurui in Masai-land, in January, and it is possible tbat the
“ black Swallow ” noticed by Colonel Grant in his ‘ Walk across Africa,’ along with
Psalidoprocne albiceps in Usinza, may have been of tho present species, thougli at tho
same time it may have been the young of P. albiceps.
The descriptions are taken from specimens in the British Museum, the figure in the
Plate being drawn from a Natal skiu in the latter collection.