. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 106 THE WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. brown, tlirongli wliicli j-nns a strong tinge of greeu tliat gives a beautiful glossy aspect to tliat part of the i)lumage. The throat and breast, together with the under tail-coverts, are very light gray, and the abdomen, part of the scapularies, and a well-defined streak over the eye, are white. This bird is a native of many parts of India, and has been taken in Java and Malacca. The true Swifts, of which one is luiown very familiarly, while tlie other is a
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 106 THE WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. brown, tlirongli wliicli j-nns a strong tinge of greeu tliat gives a beautiful glossy aspect to tliat part of the i)lumage. The throat and breast, together with the under tail-coverts, are very light gray, and the abdomen, part of the scapularies, and a well-defined streak over the eye, are white. This bird is a native of many parts of India, and has been taken in Java and Malacca. The true Swifts, of which one is luiown very familiarly, while tlie other is a very rare and almost unnoticed species, are remai'kable for the feathered tarsus, the long wings, and the x^eculiar form of the feet. In this member, all the toes are directed forward, a structure Avhich is admirably adapted to the purpose which it fulfills The Swifts build their nests, or rather lay their eggs, for the nest is hardly w^orth'y of the name, in holes under the eaves of houses, or in similar localities, and would find themselves greatly inconveniehced when seeking admission into their domiciles, but for tlie shape of the feet, which ena- bles them to cling to the slightest projection, and to clamber up a perpendicular surface with perfect ease and safety. In one species, the White Collared Swift {Ci/psehts cayenensis), the feet are clothed with feathers to the base of the The "White-bellied, or Alpixe Swift, which the reader will find illustrated together with the next bird, is the largest of the Hirundi- nidfe, being I'ather more than eight inches in total length. It is common on the continent of Europe, and in many parts of Africa and Asia. Unlike the common Swift, which is possessed of a loud and stridulous note, the Alpine Swift is sweet of voice ; its cry, altliough loud, being musical in its intonation. The popular name of this bird is given to it on account of the white hue of the under j^ortions oi its body, the only excep- tion being a broad
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
