. The birds of South Africa. Birds -- South Africa. 22 CYPSELID^ CYPSELUS Ihis, 1869, p. 72 ; Gurneij in Anclersson's B. Damaraland, p. 46 (1872). Cypselus melba {nee Linn.), Grill, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. ii, no. 10. p. 41 (1858) [Knysna and Oudtshoorn] ; Laijard, B. S. Afr. p. 50 (1867); Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 95 (1875) ; Butler, Feilden, and Reld, Zoologist, 1882, p. 206. Micropus africauus, Hartert, Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 410 (1892). Cypselus africanus, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 105 (1896). Apus africanus, Hartert, Tierreich Podarc/. p. 84 (1896). Description.—General colour above, mouse
. The birds of South Africa. Birds -- South Africa. 22 CYPSELID^ CYPSELUS Ihis, 1869, p. 72 ; Gurneij in Anclersson's B. Damaraland, p. 46 (1872). Cypselus melba {nee Linn.), Grill, K. Vet. Ahad. Handl. ii, no. 10. p. 41 (1858) [Knysna and Oudtshoorn] ; Laijard, B. S. Afr. p. 50 (1867); Sharpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 95 (1875) ; Butler, Feilden, and Reld, Zoologist, 1882, p. 206. Micropus africauus, Hartert, Cat. B. M. xvi, p. 410 (1892). Cypselus africanus, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 105 (1896). Apus africanus, Hartert, Tierreich Podarc/. p. 84 (1896). Description.—General colour above, mouse-brown, a little darker on the wings and tail, lores nearly black; below, a white patch on the throat and abdomen separated by a brown pectoral band ; sides of the body, under tail- and wing-coverts brown like the back. In some specimens the white feathers of the throat and abdomen have dark shaft lines. Iris dark brown ; bill black; legs and feet Fig. li.—Cyiischts africanus. x \. Length (in flesh) 8-0; wing 8-10; tail 3-40; culmen 0-40; tarsus 0'50. The sexes are alike ; the young birds have white edges to most of the brown feathers which gradually disappear. This bird is very closely allied to the Alpine Swift, from which it is stated to differ in its slightly smaller size (wing 8"1 against 8-45), its broader brown collar and its browner flanks. It will perhaps be best considered as a sub-species of the European bird. Distribution.—The White-bellied Swift is found all over south and east Africa in mountainous districts, extending as far north as Kilimanjaro, and perhaps into Shoa. In the Colony it is abundant, especially in Cape Town and on Table Mountain, where it arrives about August and stays till after Christmas ; it is also recorded from the Paarl in January, from Swellendam, Knysna in May (Victorin), Port Elizabeth and East. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - co
Size: 2170px × 1152px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondonrhporter
