564 ornithology, 



Family CYPSELID.K— Swifts. 

 Panyptila saxatilis. 



\Vliit<>-tliro:il<*<l Kuirt. 



AcanihyJis mMtiU'm, WoODHOUSE, Sitgreaves' llep., 1S.'>3, G4. 



Paniiptihi uttjcalilin, CouKS, Key, 1872, 1.S2; Cbeck List, 1873, No. 209; Birds 



N.W.. 1874, 2f!.-)._ni:Nsii.v\V, 187.>, .'.70. 

 Cypselm nieltinolcuciin, Baikd, Tr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pbilail., 1854, 118. 

 ramiptila melanohiica, Bairu, Birds N. Am., 18.>8, 141; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 18.">0, 



No. 107.— Cooper, Orii. Cal., 1, 1870, 317.— B. B. \- U., Hist. N. Am. Biid», 



II, 1874, 424, pi. xi.V, lig. 5. 



We first noticed this siu<>^ulivr bird in the early part of Jul}-, 18G8, on 

 the Toyabe Aloiiiitaiiis, near Austin. A single individual only was observed 

 at that place, the one in (piestion passing rai)idly by, as if bound for some 

 distant locality; the direction of its course wa.s southward, where the peaks 

 of the range are more lofty and precipitous, so it is probable that in favor- 

 able portions of these mountains the species may have occurred in abund- 

 ance. Upon arri\ing at the Ruby Mountains, a little later in the .same 

 month, we found it extremely numerous about the high limestone cliffs 

 wiruh formed the walls of the canons leading back from our camp. At 

 ihis ])lace they literally swarmed, and were associated with smaller numbers 

 of retroch'Udon Imufions and Tachjcinda tludasslna, both of which nested 

 among the same rocks. It was afterward seen in City Creek Canon, near 

 Salt Lake City, but it Avas not abundant there. 



The ai)pearance of this bird calls to mind at first sight the Chimney 

 Swifts {Cluctura pclafjicd and C. vauxi) on a large scale, or Xcjdta'ccti-s, but 

 it lias more conspicuous colors, and more active and varied manners; the 

 deeply-forked t;iil, and the al)rnpt contrast between the black and white 

 areas of its plumage distinguishing it at a glance from all other North 

 American Swifts. It was our frequent amusement to clamber half-way up 

 a clitr, or to where farther progress was impossible, and, hidden among the 

 rocks, watch the movements of these extraordinarily active birds. Every 

 few moments a pair would rush l)y with such velocity as to be scarcely 

 seen, one chasing the other, and both uttering a sharp rattling twitter. 

 Another pair would collide high up in the air, and, fastening upon each 



