130 KLECHO SWALLOW. 



4 



and sweeping flights, doubtless attracted thither by the insects thcat soar aloft during 

 serene weather. Hence, as I have before stated, few birds are more difficult to obtain, 

 particularly ou the continent of Australia, where long droughts are so prevalent ; on the 

 contrary, the flocks that visit the more humid climate of Van Diemen's Land, where they 

 necessarily seek their food nearer the earth, are often greatly diminished by the gun 

 diiring their stay. 



I "regret that I could ascertain no particulars whatever respecting the nicUfication of 

 this fine bird, but we may naturally conclude that both rocks and holes in the larger trees 

 are selected as sites for this purpose, as well as for a roosting-place during the night. 

 Before retiring to roost, which it does immediately after the sun has gone down, the 

 Spine-tailed Swallows may frequently be seen either singly or in pau's, sweeping \ip tlie 

 gullies or flying with immense rapidity just aliove the top of the trees, their never-tiring 

 wings enabling them to perform their evolutions in the capture of insects, and of sustaining 

 themselves in the air during the entire day without cessation." 



The Australian Needle-tailed Swallow is a most beautiful bird in its colouring, as well 

 as handsome in size and elegance of shape. The general colour of this bird is olive- 

 brown, exceedingly dark in the chest and abdomen, and washed with a dark green tinge 

 upon the back of the head, the wings, and the tail. Before the eyes there is a velvet- 

 black patch, and a large poi-tion of the imder parts of the body is white, including the 

 chin, throat, rmder tail-coverts, and the inner web of the secondaries. There is also a 

 white band extending across the forehead. 



A CLOSELY allied species is the Aculeated Swallow {Acanthylis Pelasgia). 



This bird is a native of many parts of America, being found in Louisiana, Carolina, 

 and even in Pennsylvania. It is chiefly remarkable for the ingenuity which it exhibits in 

 the construction of its singular nest. Choosing some convenient locality, such as a rocky 

 crevice, or the unused chimney of a house, the bird commences its labours by putting 

 together a slight platform of dry twigs, which it cements together with certain vegetable 

 gums. So large is tliis platform, that it sometimes causes considerable inconvenience to 

 the inhaliitants of the house where the Swallow has taken up its residence, as it completely 

 stops up the orifice of the chimney. Upon this platform is formed a kind of cradle nest, 

 also composed of small twigs, -which are woven into a kind of rude basket, and also 

 cemented together. 



The eggs of this species are very large in proportion to the dimensions of the parent 

 bird ; their colour is greyish-white, streaked and spotted with black and brown towards 

 the large end. The general colour of the plumage is brown, and the throat is whitish- 

 grey. 



The birds which lielong to the genus Macropteiyx, or Long-winged S^vifts, possess 

 wings of very great comparative lengtli, o^^dng to the development t)f the two first primary 

 feathers of the wings, which are nearly equal to each other in length, the second being 

 slightly the longer of the two. They may, however, be easily distinguished from the 

 members of the genus Acanthylis, by the formation of the tail, which, instead of being 

 composed of feathers of nearly equal length, and tip]ied with sharp points, is forked after 

 the manner usually oliserved in the smaller tribes. The feet are furnished with four toes, 

 the hinder toe being directed backward. 



The Klecho Swallow, or Large-winged Swift, as it is more rightly termed, as it 

 belongs to the ranks of the Cyi^seline birds, is considered of great value by ornithologists 

 as supplying a link in the chain that connects the Swifts with the Swallows. LilvC the 

 Swifts m general, its feet are well adapted for climbing, and supplied with firm curved 

 claws; and like the Swallows, its hinder toe is directed backwards, and cannot be brought 

 round in a line with the remaining toes. It is a verj^ handsome bird, in its colouring 

 nearly equalhng the Needle-tailed Swift which has just been descrilicd. The colour of the 

 vipper parts of the body is deep brown, through which runs a strong tinge of green tliat 

 gives a beautiful glossy aspect to that part of the plumage. The throat and breast, 

 together with the under tail-coverts, are very light grey, and the abdomen, part of the 

 scapularies, and a weU-defined streak over the eye, are white. 



