CYPSELID.E. 



265 



THE NEEDLE-TAILED SWIFT. 



AcANTHYLLis CAUDACUTA (Latham). 



An example of this Asiatic species was shot at Great Horkesley, 

 near Colchester, on July 8th 1846, having frequented that neigh- 

 bourhood for two days, and was examined in the flesh by Doubleday 

 and Yarrell. The latter did not include it in his 3rd Edition of 

 ' British Birds,' being probably under the impression — then generally 

 prevalent — that the species was a native of Australia, to which it is 

 now known to be merely a winter-visitor. On July 26th or 27th 

 1879, another specimen was obtained near Ringwood, in Hampshire, 

 having for a few days before been seen flying with a companion over 

 the river Avon by Mr. Corbin, on whose behalf the specimen was 

 exhibited by Prof. Newton at a meeting of the Zoological Society. 



This fine Swift has not yet been noticed in any other part of 

 Europe, and its western breeding-limits are probably in the moun- 

 tains to the south of Krasnoiarsk, in the upper valley of the Yenesei, 

 whence Seebohm received specimens. The late General Prjevalsky 

 found it in summer up to 62° N. at Yakutsk on the Lena ; while it 

 is moderately abundant round Lake Baikal, and rather plentiful on 



