564 ORNITHOLOGY. 



Family CYPSELID.E— Swifts. 

 Paxyptila saxatilis. 



n'liilc-tliroatcd Swift. 



AcanthyVis saxatilis, WooDHOUSB, Sitgreaves' Rep., 18r>3, 04. 



Paniiptila saxatilis, CouES, Key, 1872, IS2; Check List, 1873, No. L'GO; BliJs 



N.W., 1871, 205.— Uenshaw, 1S75, .■^70. 

 Cypselns melanoleucus, Baird, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sri. Pliiiad., 1S54, US. 

 Panyptila meJanoleuca, Baikd, Birds N. Am., l.S.")S, 141 ; Cat. N. Am. Birds, IS.ji), 



No. 107.— Cuoi'EK, Oni. C;il., I, 1870, 347.— B. B. cSt R., Uist. N. Am. Birds, 



II, 1874, 424, 1.1. XLV, fig. 5. 



"We first noticed tln« ,siug-ular Ijird in the early part of July, 18G8, on 

 tlie Toyabe Mountains, near Austin. A siuyle individual only was observed 

 at that place, the one in (piestion passing- rapidly by, as if bound for some 

 distant locality; the direction of its course was 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 arriving at the Ruby Mountains, a little later in the same 

 month, we found it extremely numerous about the hig-h limestone cliffs 

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

 this place they literally swarmed, and were associated with smaller numbers 

 oi Pdroclielidon Imufions and Tacliydncfa fJialass'ma, both of which nested 

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

 ►Salt Lake City, but it was not abundant there. 



The appearance of this bird calls to mind at first sig-ht the Chinmey 

 Swifts {Cludiira ])elagica and C. vcmxi) on a large scale, or Ncphvcctcfi, but 

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

 de('j)ly-forked tail, and the abrupt contrast between the black and white 

 areas of its ]ihiu)age distinguishing it at a glance from all other North 

 American S\\ ills. It was our frequent amusement to clamber half-way up 

 a clilf, oi- to wlierc I'arther progress was impossible, and, hidden among the 

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

 few moments a pair would rush by with such velocity as to be scarcely 

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

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



