390 CHJETURA PELASGIA. 



OEDER IV. CYPSELI. SWIFTS. 



sternum, with no marginal indentations. Keel, very high. Bill, short, with a wide and 

 deep gape, but there are no bristles at the base. The plumage is not soft. 



The wings are exceedingly long and pointed, while the feet are moderately lar^e ami 

 provided with long, sharp claws admirahly adapted U> the purpose for which they are in- 

 tended; that of clinging to perpendicular walls. The eyes are quite large and many of the 

 species are semi-nocturnal in habit. 



FAMILY I. GllMTVUlDM. THE AMERICAN SWIFTS. 



Joints of toes, normal in number. Corac.oids, exceedingly short and set at a rather wide 

 angle. Furcula, short and arched. 



The body is extremely short and compact, consequently the legs and wings have their 

 origin quite near together, the knees when bent, coming on a level with the heart. The 

 tibte are long but the tarsi are short. The short furcula is well arched and is provided 

 with a ver}' snuill terminal expansion. The humerus is very short, not more than one 

 half the length of the fore-arm which is normal in length, while the carpus and metacar- 

 pus are considerably elongated; the result of this modification is a very long, saber-shnped 

 wing. The skull is not large but the neck is quite huig. The high keel supports very 

 large and firm pectond muscles, thus the birds are exceedingly strong on tlie wing, having 

 apparently untiring powers of llight. 



o 



GENUS I. CHiETURA. THE CHIMNEY SWIFTS. 



(ten. On. Tail, short, wilh /hr s/uif't.i stiffened anil e.rtendinij lieyond the welis in thorn-like spines. The mouth is jirovid- 

 ed with tiro peruliar tjinnds, situated beneath the lonijue. 



Mi'iiibei's uf tliisgenu^ are noticeably cliaraeteriseil liy tlie termination of the tail. Tlie tarsi are naked and tlie tiliaj 

 areonly jiartly featliered. Tlie peculiar glands beneatli the tongue are somewhat triangular in fonn and, during the nesting 

 season, secrete a viscid saliva whioli is exuded though a number of ducts that open along the inner edges, oonseiiuently, 

 directly under the tongue. The larynx is jjrovided with a strong sterno-trachealis and also witli a slight bronclio-trachealis. 

 The tym])aniform membrane is present and although there is an os transversale, yet it does not support a semilunar mem- 

 brane. The oesophagus is without dilatation. The proventriculus is small, with snnple oval glands which are arranged in 

 a zonular band. The stomach is flat, rather round, the walls are thin and lined witli a smooth membrane. The hoop lA' 

 the duodenum is short, encircling a rather long pancreas which extends along the intestine. The spleen Ls an oblong body, 

 situated directly over the cardiac opening of the stomach. The coeca are quite large. 



CH.a!TURA PELASGIA. 

 Chimney Swift. 

 Cha:tura pelasyia Steph., Shaw's Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII; 1825, 76. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Sternum, stout. Tongue, short, thin, llatand horny, especially at the 

 tip but is not biiid nor provided with terminal cilia. When viewed laterally, tliis organ has a somewhat peculiar appear- 

 .ince, lus the iii-st bone, the glosso-hyal, is placed higher than the remaining portions, the uro-hyal being bent downward; 

 thus the tracheal o])ening which approximates quite closely to the tongue, is considerably beneath its. level. 



Color. Adult. Dark sooty-brown, tliroughout, darkest on the head, back, and wings \f here there is a greenish gloss. 

 The wings and tail are not ilark and the throat is (juitc pale but gradually becomes darker on the breast. 



Youny. This stage of plumage is scarcely different from the above, the general colors are, perhaps, darker, and tliu 

 primaries and scapularies arc slightly edged with VN'latish. 



