424 CORACIIFORMES CHAP. 
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 shghtly more eastern 
range with whitish band 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. sancti hieronyme 
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 hung 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. PP. cayennensis, ranging 
from Nicaragua to Brazil, makes a similar nest on trees. 
The coloration of the twenty or more species of Cypselus 1s 
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 uncommon, and the strong toes are 
feathered in C. 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. 
pallidus 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. wnicolor 
is peculiar to Madeira, the Canaries, and the Cape Verd Islands; 
C. affinis reaches from Africa and Palestine to India; C. melba, 
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. 
