BLACK SWIFT. 63 



intermixed, but only singly, and not in any part 

 specially. One specimen is double, two nests having 

 been constructed so close side by side, that there 

 is but a partition wall between them. Many nests 

 had eggs, but in throwing down the fronds all were 

 broken but one, which I now have. It is pure 

 white, unspotted, larger at one end, measuring ^§ 

 inch by -^-q. The average dimensions of the nests 

 were about 5 inches high, and 3^ wide. 



The genus Tachornis seems intermediate between 

 Cypselus and Collocalia, with considerable general 

 resemblance to the latter. This species is perhaps 

 Hirundo 1, of Browne. 



BLACK SWIFT.* 

 Cypselus niger. 

 Hirundo nigra^ Gmel. 



The description below is made from a dried skin 

 in very poor order, but assisted by one of Mr. Hill's 

 exquisite drawings, executed when the bird was 

 recent. It was shot in 1843, near Spanish-town, in 

 company with many others. I conclude it to be the 



* Length 6i inches, expanse — ? flexure 6^^, reaching about 1 inch 

 beyond the tail, tail outmost feather 2f , uropygials 2, rictus i, beak 

 from forehead ^, tarsus ^, middle toe ^, lateral toes sub-equal, hallux 

 opposite. Outmost tail-feathers sub-rounded, the rest elegantly emargi- 

 nated. First and second quills equal, the rest graduated rapidly. 



Irides ? beak and feet black. Whole plumage black, very 



slightly glossed with raven-grey, and greenish ; head and under parts ap- 

 proaching to smoke brown. The feathers of the forehead tipped with 

 whitish ; a grey spot just behind the lower eyelid. 



