1 60 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



spines at the end of their tail-feathers, using 

 these as do some of the Woodpeckers when the 

 latter cling to a tree-trunk. The stretch of 

 their wings is something amazing compared with 

 their length, — the distance from tip to tip being 

 more than twelve inches, while from tip of bill 

 to end of tail-feathers, when stretched out, they 

 measure only a little more than four inches. 

 This extraordinary wing enables them to per- 

 form miracles of flight. It is said they some- 

 times cover a thousand miles in twenty-four 

 hours. 



The Swift on the wing suggests by his gen- 

 eral appearance the bat. As he flies, he utters 

 a single note rapidly. 



Particular Description. — General coloration, 

 dusky-grayish ; throat, pale-grayish ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, lighter than the back. 



Summer resident. 



THE BLACK SWIFT. 



This Swift is darker than the Vaux's, and 

 much larger, — its length being seven inches and 

 more. It is a bird of splendid flight and lofty 

 habitat. Mr. Anthony states that it nests in 



