232 Transactions. — Zoology. 



screaming so loudly that every creature withiu reach of its cry 

 is on the alert. 



4. Ch^tuea caudacuta (Spine-tailed Swift, Needle-tailed 

 Swallow) . 



Mr. Drew also brought with him a very good specimen of 

 this bird. It was shot at Manaia, Hawera County, in March, 

 1888, and was given to the present owner by Mr. Budge. This 

 latest visitor is a female, as proved by dissection, the only 

 difference between the sexes being that the male is rather 

 larger than his mate. This species has a wide range — it is 

 said to breed under the snow-line in the Himalayas, it was 

 found by Von Schrenck in Amoorland, it has been captured in 

 England, is common in Australia, and now has visited New 

 Zealand. Large flocks visit the eastern parts of Australia and 

 Tasmaiiia in the summer, but only stay a short time. It is 

 probable that our specimen was merely an exhausted straggler 

 from one of these flocks. It agrees well with the description 

 given by Gould: "Crown of head, back of neck, and ear- 

 covertS", deep shining-green, strongly tinged with brown ; a 

 small space immediately before the eye, deep velvety-black ; 

 band across the forehead, throat, inner webs of the second- 

 aries nearest the back, a patch on the lower part of the 

 flanks, and the under tail-coverts, white ; wings and tail deep 

 shining-green, with purple reflections ; centre of the back 

 greyish-brown, becoming darker towards the rump ; chest and 

 abdomen dark clove-brown." 



Mr. Gould makes the following remarks with regard to the 

 enormous powers of flight possessed by this bird : — 



" The keel or breastbone of this species is more than ordi- 

 narily deep, and the pectoral muscles more developed than in any 

 bird of its weight with which I am acquainted. Its whole form 

 is especially and beautifully adapted for extended flights ; hence 

 it readily passes from one part of the world to another, and, if so 

 disposed, may be engaged in hawking for flies on the continent 

 of Australia at one hour, and in the next be similarly employed 

 in Tasmania. 



" So exclusively is this bird a tenant of the air that I 

 never in any instance saw it perch, and but rarely sufficiently 

 near the earth to admit of a successful shot ; it is only late in 

 the evening, and during lowery weather that such an object 

 can be accomplished. "With the exception of the crane, it is 

 certainly the most lofty as well as the most vigorous flier of 

 the Australian birds. I have frequently observed in the 

 middle of the hottest days, while lying prostrate on the 

 ground, with my eyes directed upwards, the cloudless blue sky 

 peopled at an immense elevation by hundreds of these birds, 

 performing extensive curves and sweeping flights, doubtless 



