INSESSORES. 103 



Genus CH^TURA, Stephens. 



The type of this genus is an American bird, the Hirimdo 

 spinicauda of authors, Mr. Hodgson considered the Indian 

 H. caudacuta to differ sufficiently to warrant its separation, 

 and proposed for it the generic appellation of Himndapus ; 

 but such a division does not appear to me advisable, and I 

 have not therefore adopted it. The Spine-tailed Swifts are 

 inhabitants both of the Old and New Worlds. 



Sp. 51. CHJETURA CAUDACUTA. 



Spine-tailed Swift. 



Hirundo caudacuta, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 57. 



fusca, Steph. Cont. of Shaw's Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 76. 



pacifica, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 58? 



Needle-tailed Swallow, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 307. 



Pin-tailed Swallow, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 308. 



Chatura Australis, Steph. Cont. Shaw's Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 70. 



macroptera, Swains. Zool. 111., 2nd ser. pi. 42. 



nudipes, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 1836, p. 779. 



Acanthylis caudacuta, G. R. Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1843, p. 194. 

 nudipes, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 55, Acan- 

 thylis, sp. 4. 

 Pallene macroptera, caudacuta, et leuconota, Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 168. 

 Cypselus leuconotus, Deless. Mag. de Zool. 1840, Ois. t. 20. 

 Hirundapus nudipes, Hodgson. 



Acanthylis caudacuta, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, voL 11. pL 10. 



This noble species, one of the largest of the Cypselines yet 

 discovered, is a summer visitant of the eastern portions of 

 Australia, proceeding as far south as Tasmania ; but its visits 

 to this island are not so regular as to New South Wales. 

 During the months of January and February it appears in 

 large flocks, which, after spending a few days, disappear as 

 suddenly as they arrived. I am not aware of its having been 

 observed in Western Australia, neither has it occurred iu any 



