ALPINE SWIFT. 279 



part of the breast ; the thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts, 

 hair-brown ; feathers on the legs brown ; toes orange brown ; 

 claws dark brown. 



The whole length of the bird, from the point of the beak 

 to the end of the feathers of the tail, which are forked and 

 very stiff, is eight inches and three-eighths. From the 

 carpal joint of the wing to the end of the longest feather, 

 eight inches and five-eighths; the wings, when closed, 

 reach two inches beyond the end of the forked tail ; the 

 second quill-feather the longest in the wing ; the first fea- 

 ther a little longer than the third ; the shafts of all black. 



The vignette below represents the foot of the Swallow, 

 with the breast-bone and foot of the Swift. In the latter 

 the four toes are all directed forwards. In the breast-bone 

 the depth of the keel, and its consequent large muscles, 

 indicate the power of flight. 



