INSESSOUES. 103 



Genus CH^ETURA, Stephens. 



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

 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 Hinindapus ; 

 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. CENTURA CAUDACUTA. 



Spine-tailed Swift. 



Hii'undo caudacuta, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 57. 



fusca, Steph. Confc. of Shawns Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 76. 



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



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



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



Chcetura Australis, Steph. Cont. Shawns Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 7(^. 



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



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



Acanthjlis caudacuta, G. K,. 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, Grould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. pi. 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 in any 



