350 



SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISOEES, 



This bird has not yet been obtained within this State ; yet it must un- 

 doubtedly migrate through some part of it to reach its summer residence 

 near the Straits of Fuca. I have seen a black swift, without any white 

 apparent, flying about, very high above Pah-Ute canon, west of Fort Mojave, 

 on May 29th, 1861. I also saw an ajaparently black swallow at Santa Bar- 

 bara in Ma}', 1S63, but this may have been the Chcvtura Vauxii. As men- 

 tioned above, it is found in Jamaica and Cuba, where it appears to be resi- 

 dent, and of smaller size. It is also occasionally seen on the table-lands of 

 Mexico, according to Professor Sumichrast; but its movements otherwise are 

 but little known. Like other swifts, flying hal)itually almost out of sight, 

 and rarely coming near the ground, except in cloudy weather, it would very 

 readily escape the attention of travellers in tlie West, liowever abundant it 

 might be. 



It is by no means improbable tliat other species of the present family will 

 yet be discovered in New j\Iexico and Arizona, as there are several kinds 

 belonging to Mexico and Guatemala, that miglit readily extend their spring 

 migrations across our boundary witliout detection. 



Of its habits no account has been published, and yet it is one of the 

 most interesting additions lately made to the North American fauna. 



Genus CH-S3TURA, Stephens. 



Chatura, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII. ii. 1825, 76. (Type, C. pehsijia.) 

 Acanllii/lis, BoiE, Isis, 182G, 971. (.1. spiiiimMla.) 



Gen. Cii.\r. Tail very short, scarcely more than two fifths the wings, slightly rounded ; 

 the shafts stifluued and extending some distance beyond the feathers in a rigid spine. 



C. Vauxii. 



