52 PASSERES. — HIRUNDINID^. 



long ; and as the bird hangs upon a wall, rock, &c., 

 by his claws, these bones are pressed close to it, 

 and the leg thereby secured from harm. 



^' The tail consisted of ten feathers, which, when 

 expanded, formed a large segment of a circle, some- 

 what pointed at their ends ; the innermost ones 

 broadest. It is remarkable in this bird, that the 

 tail-feathers have naked shafts after the manner of 

 the woodpeckers, and adapted to the same use ; for 

 the shafts, being remarkably strong and elastic, even 

 to their points, help to support the birds in their 

 pendent situation, till they get fast hold by their 

 claws, if there is any to be got: if not, they can, 

 by means of their tail, fling themselves back, and 

 recover their wings quickly, which might be difficult 

 for them to do were the shafts of the tail less 

 strong. The points are not only naked but sharp. 



" Mr. Long had this bird alive. I set it upon the 

 floor ; it crept along with its legs bent, leaning upon 

 the aforesaid bones, but was not able to raise itself 

 upon its feet ; its legs were not so thick as those of 

 our great English Swift. It was remarkably broad- 

 shouldered, measuring two inches from pinion to 

 pinion; its head was one inch broad between the 

 eyes. It resembled the Caprimulgus of Edwards 



sunk in the head, with remarkably large eyebrows ; toes three before 

 and one behind, covered as well as the tarsi with blackish purple scales ; 

 claws black, polished, hooked, and compressed ; tibia feathered to the 

 tarsus. Head, throat, wings, tail, and belly brown ; the back and tail 

 more inclining towards black, as also the long quill-feathers. The breast 

 partly white, which was continued round the neck, like a ring : the 

 head large, like, that of Edwards's Whip-poor-will. Fore part of the 

 eyebrows tipt with white." 



