The Swifts 



Distribution. Lower California and extreme south- 

 ern California. 



Division 111. Scales of back small and of uniform size 

 bluntly keeled. Tail with larger, spiny scales. 



STANSBURY'S SWIFT, U. stansburiana, Baird & Girard. 



Dark green or grayish, with two series of small, dark 

 blotches on the back, which are surrounded by scat- 

 tered, bluish dots. A pale band on the side, and 

 frequently a dark, brownish blotch behind the fore- 

 limb. Abdomen pale. One of the smallest species. 

 Following are the measurements of an adult specimen: 

 Total length, 4] inches; length of tail, 2.V inches; 

 width of body, i an inch; width of head, of an inch. 

 Distribution. The most abundant species of the 

 genus. It occurs from western Texas to Cali- 

 fornia, inclusive, and northward to Nevada. 

 Very common in the deserts of Arizona and 

 eastern California. 



PALMER'S SWIFT, U. palmerii, Stejneger. 



Larger than the preceding. Bluish-drab, with numerous, 

 small, whitish dots, two to three scales large, irregu- 

 larly scattered over the body. No dark blotches on 

 the back. A dark spot behind the forelimb. Attains 

 a length of about 6 inches. 



Distribution. San Pedro Martir Island, Gulf of 

 California. 



Division IV. Middle of the back with four to six rows of 



much enlarged, keeled scales. 



Sub-division a. Enlarged scales of the back in five or six 

 irregular rows smaller intermixed with larger ones. 



i. A row of sharply conical, close-set scales on each side. 

 ORNATE SWIFT, U. ornata, Baird & Girard. 



Gray, with wavy, black cross-bands. Males with a large 

 blue patch on each side of the abdomen. Head broad. 

 Hind limbs shorter than the distance from vent to 

 fold of skin under neck. Attains a length of six to 

 eight inches. 



Distribution. Arid regions of New Mexico, Arizona 



and California. 

 I a. No row of raised scales on the sides. 



OLIVE SWIFT, U. levis, Stejneger. 



Large scales of the back very feebly keeled. Greenish 

 above, without traces of other markings. The male 

 has a blue patch on each side of the abdomen. 

 Distribution. New Mexico. Rare. 

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