. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. 1^ I* .'': 12:, 'I B\" iiU 'n 132 THE WHITE-BELLIKD SWIET. The following interesting account of the hiiliits of this bird is Thompson :— given by .Mr. "The first pltice I met with the Alpine Swift was almost teu miles to the north of Xaples, on the 12th of vVngust, 182(1, when a great number were observed associated together in iliglit, at a high elevation. Their evohitions in the air were sinular to those of a common Swift. Independently of their superior size, which at once distingu
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. 1^ I* .'': 12:, 'I B\" iiU 'n 132 THE WHITE-BELLIKD SWIET. The following interesting account of the hiiliits of this bird is Thompson :— given by .Mr. "The first pltice I met with the Alpine Swift was almost teu miles to the north of Xaples, on the 12th of vVngust, 182(1, when a great number were observed associated together in iliglit, at a high elevation. Their evohitions in the air were sinular to those of a common Swift. Independently of their superior size, which at once distinguishcis them from that bird, the w]ut(! colour of a portion of the under jdumnge, from which they have received the name of White-bellied Swift, is conspicuous, even when the bird ia at a considerable altitude. When on the continent in IS+l witli my friend Professor E. Forbes, this species was first seen by us on tlie 9(h of Ai)ril, as we descended the Ifhoue, from L;,ons to Avignon. About half way between these cities, several ajipeared ilying over the river, and a few at tall suitable places thence to Avignon. On the morning of the 28th of April, as \\'e entered the si)]endid bay of Navarino, great nundjers ap])eared careering high over- head. When walking through the pretty town of the same luime, later in the day, Alpine. SWUT-Ci/jw/iM Mella. I' , i'!it"^fc < t '' H " If J M If- Swifts were ooserved fiying very low over the streets and houses, though the weather was delightfully warm and fine. On my visitin- tliu island of Sphacteria the western boundary of the bay, on the 2!)th, these biids were very abundant. Tlie attraction here was a range of noble precipitous cliffs rising directlv above the sea, at the western side of the island. These Swifts inhabited the cliils, which are similar to those tenaided by the common species in the north of Scotland. _ Although the day was as fine as warm as our norlliei'ii summers ever are, tlies(i birds,
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
