346 SHRIEKING BIRDS— STRISORES. 



Family CYPSELID^, The Swifts. 



Chae. Eill very small, without notch, triangular, much broader than 

 hio-h ; the culmen not one sixth the gape. Anterior toes cleft to the base, 

 each with three joints (in the typical species), and covered with skin ; the 

 middle claw without any serrations ; the lateral toes nearly equal to the 

 middle. Bill without bristles, but with minute feathers extending along 

 the under margin of the nostrils. Nostrils elongated, superior, and very 

 close together. Plumage compact. Primaries ten, elongated, falcate. 

 Species of this family are found abundantly both in the Old and the 

 New World. 



Gexus PANYPTILA, Cabanis. 



Panyptila, Cab.inis, Wicgm. Archiv, 1847, 1, 345. 

 Pseudoprocne, Streubel, Isis, 1848, 357. 



Gen. Char. Tail half as long as the wings ; moderately forked; the feathers rather 

 lanceolate, rounded at tip, the shafts stitTened but not projecting. Fu-st prim.ary shorter 



than the second. Tarsi, toes, and claws very thick and stout ; the former shorter than 

 the uuddle toe and claw, which is rather longer than the lateral one ; middle claw longer 



