614 



CYPSELUS MURARIUS. THE BLACK SWIFT. 



BLACK MARTIN. SWIFT. SCREECH. DEVELING. 



Fig. 271. 



Hirundo Apus. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 344. 



Hirundo Apus. Lath. Ind. Orn. L 582. 



Swift. Mont. Orn. Diet. 



Cypselus murarius. Temm. Man. d'Orn. L 434. 



Common Swift. Cypselus murarius. Selb. Illustr. L 127. 



Cypselus Apus. Common Swift. Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 159. 



BlacMsh-hrown^ slightly glossed with green, the throat greyish- 

 white. 



Male. — The form of the Swift is admirably adapted to its 

 mode of life, but not more so than that of any other bird, al- 

 though we are enabled to trace the connection between its form 

 and habits in a comparatively satisfactory manner, both being 

 so remarkable as to render the task easy. The body is of a 

 somewhat elongated and flattened shape, anteriorly broad, with 

 the pectoral muscles large ; the neck very short, the head 

 broad, the wings excessively long and narrow, the tail rather 

 long and deeply forked, the feet very short, but strong, the bill 

 very small, the mouth very wide. 



Both mandibles are deflected, and taper rapidly to a narrow 



