424 CORACIIFORMES 



with partly digested sea- weed, extends (if we include several more 

 or less distinct races) from the Duke of York Island and the 

 Ladrones in the east to the hills of India, Ceylon, and the Masca- 

 rene Group in the west, a small species of slightly more eastern 

 range with whitish hand on the rump being known as C. francica. 



Sub-fam. 3. Cypselinae. — This contains only the genera 

 Panyptila and Cypselus, granted that the latter is not further 

 divided. The former has feathered toes, a deeply forked tail with 

 pointed outer feathers, and soft, silky black plumage, varied with 

 white. The very remarkable architecture of P. smicti hieronymi 

 of Guatemala is described as follows by Mr. Salvin : ^ " The nest of 

 this species is composed entirely of the seeds of a plant, secured 

 together and liung from the under surface of an overhanging 

 rock by the saliva of the bird. The whole structure measures 

 2 feet 2 inches in length, and is about 6 inches in diameter. 

 The entrance is at the [lower] end, and the hollow for the eggs 

 at the top." The cavity in the above case was in the shape of a 

 walking-stick, with its knob bent laterally at the top, while a 

 false entrance shewed at one side. F. cayennensis, ranging 

 from Nicaragua to Brazil, makes a similar nest on trees. 



The coloration of the twenty or more species of Cypselus is 

 sooty-black or mouse-brown, frequently exhibiting a metallic gloss, 

 while the collar, rump, abdomen, or edges of the feathers may be 

 white. A forked tail is not vmcommon, and the strong toes are 

 feathered in 0. melanoleucus and C. squamatus. C: apus, the 

 Common Swift or Deviling of Britain, is found through Europe, 

 North Africa, and Asia southward to the Himalayas, migrating to 

 South Africa, Madagascar, and Southern Asia. A paler race (C 

 p)allidus or murinus) extends from the Atlantic Islands and the 

 Mediterranean basin to Bogos Land and Sind. The habits are 

 well-known ; but it may be observed that in flying the wings take 

 the form of a bent bow, and that on the Continent it builds in 

 hollow trees instead of in holes under eaves, in walls or cliffs. Few 

 individuals remain with us after early September. C. unicolor 

 is peculiar to Madeira, the Canaries, and the Cape Verd Islands ; 

 C. affinis reaches from Africa and Palestine to India ; C. melha, 

 the " Alpine Swift," inhabits the same Asiatic countries, extend- 

 ing westward to South Europe and North Africa, and wandering- 

 north to Britain and Heligoland. C. caffer occurs in South 

 1 P.Z.S. 1863, pp. 191-192. 



