CvPSELUS, Illig. Tem. &c. IhnuNno, Lin. &c. SWIFT.
Bill very short, triangular, broad at the base, inconspi cuous, depressed, cleft as far as under the eyes; upper mandible hooked at the tip ; nostrils cleft longitudinally at the upper part of the bill, open,and the raised margins furnished with small feathers ; legs very short, with the four toes directed forwards, and quite divided, and the toes and claws short and thick ; wings very long.—The birds of this genus present many analogies to those of the preceding, from which they have only recently been de tached. They are still more active, and unwearied in their movements.
C. alpinus, Tem. Hirundo Melba. Lin. &c. White Swift, or Greatest Martin. Greyish-brown above, with the throat and abdomen white. About eight inches and a half in length. Bill black ; neck with a grey brown collar variegated with dusky; sides dusky, variegated with white ; legs flesh coloured. In the female the col lar is narrower, and the plumage less deeply shaded with dusky.
This species arrives in Savoy about the beginning of April ; but it flies over pools and marshes during the first fifteen days, nor visits the mountainous districts, its more permanent abode, until the end of the month. It occurs in the mountains of Switzerland, the Tyrol, and on the shores and islands of the Mediterranean. Specimens from Africa, though differing a little in markings, appear to be only one of the varieties Like the comm nt swift, it flies in flocks, more or less numerous, and incessantly wheels round the precipitous rocks, which rise above the cliffs in which it nestles, uttering as it flies very loud and shrill screams. In the midst of its career it will sometimes stop and cling by its claws to the rocks, or blocks of stone, in the neighbourhood of its nest. To those which first cling to the rock others adhere, and others in succession, thus forming, ler a moment, a vibrating and animated chain, when they again separate, and resume their circling and clamorous flight. Among the Modenese hills, they are observed as early as the 12th of Nlarch. and soon after lay their eggs in the old nests, or prepare new ones, if the old have been destroyed. These nests are a little larger than those of the common swift, but still small for the size of the bird, lined with a light tissue of delicate feathers, under which are little bits of straw and wood, closely interlaced, in concentric circles, the interstices being filled up with the leaves of trees, and the whole varnished over with a glutinous humour, which gives it solidity and hardness. The females have two hatches,
the first consisting of three or four elongated and white eggs. which arc incubated in three weeks ; and the young are full grown about the middle or July: and the second usually consists of only two eggs, the young proceeding Iron' which are mature about the middle of September. They remain in the north of Italy till October. When these birds retire to rest in the night, the male and fe male squat down in their hole together, and in this situa tion will allow themselves to be touched before they fly off. They generally maintain a very elevated flight ; and the period 01 their departure to the south is more uncer tain than that of their arrival at their respective breeding stations. The young are esteemed as an article of food ; but the old birds are tough and stringy.
C. wurarius, Tern. Hirundo apus, Lin. &c. Cypsans apus, Cuv. &e. dllicropus and Braehypus Nurarius., Aleyer. Sunft, Screech, Screech Martin, Black Martin, Deviling or Screamer. Body black, chin white. During its residence with us, its black gloss fades to a dirty-brown. This species, which measures nearly eight inches in length, and eighteen in extent of wing, weighs only one ounce. Its folded wings project nine lines beyond the tail. Though larger than the common swallow, its bill, neck, and feet, arc proportionally shorter; the head larger; the breast more ample, and the wings much longer. Owing to this conformation, it springs from the ground with dif ficulty, a manoeuvre, however, which it has seldom occa sion to practice, as it passes most of its life on the wing. Whilst it walks, or rather crawls with awkwardness, it has a strong grasp with its feet, and can readily cling to walls and other places which it frequents. From the flatness of its body, it can enter a very narrow crevice, and when it cannot pass on its belly, it will turn up edgewise to push itself through. The male is somewhat heavier than the female, and has stronger feet, with a broader patch of white on the throat ; and the female is of a browner hue. We should likewise remark, that the young adult birds weigh more than the old, being much fatter, on which ac count they are captured for the table in Italy, and some other countries.