350 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Cotijle serriptiinis. 



Gems STELGIDOPTERYX, Rafrd. 



Sfflr/ifhpfer/f.r, Raihp, IJinls X. Am. 1858, 312. ^Typt-, ninindo scrripennis, Ai'D. ) 



Okk. Char. Bill rather small; nostrils oval, superior, niaririnod behind, but soareely 



laterally bv nieiultrane, but not at all overhung: 

 tiu' axes ot" the outline eonverL'"ini;. Frontal 

 leathers soft, and, like ehin. without bristles. 

 Tarsi equal to middle toe without claw: the 

 upper end eovere<l with feathers all rouml. 

 none at lower end. Basal joint of middle toe 

 adherent externally lu-arly to end; internally, 

 scai'cely hall". Lateral toes about eqind, their 

 claws not reaehini( beyond base of nii<ldle claw. 

 Tail sliirhtly cmaririnate ; the feathers broad, and obliquely rotnide<l at end. Kd^-e of the 

 wini; rouirh to the touch; the shafts of the fibrilhe of outer web of outer primary pro- 

 loufjed and bent at rijrht angles into a short stid'hook. Nest (of S. serripennis) in b3le.s 

 in banks ; ejrfr-s pure white, unspotted. 

 Color dull brown above. 



The great peculiarity of this genus consists in the remarknhle roughness 

 of tlie edge of the wing, said to occur also in P.salldnprocnr, (\\B. The ob- 

 ject is uncertain, but is probably to enable the bird to secure a foothold on 

 vertical or inclined rocks, among or on which it makes its nest. A favorite 

 breeding-place of S. srrripi'nnis is in tlie piers and abutments of bridges, and 

 these hooks nii^ht render essential aid in enterinu" into their holes. 



The birds of this genus liave usually been referred to Cofiflc, which, how- 

 ever, they resemble only in color. The nostrils are ex]»osed, instead of being 

 overhung ; the tar.>us is bare below, not leathered, and tlie lateral claws are 

 considerablv curved, and not reaching bevond the base of the lateral, as in 

 CotjfJr. The structure of tlie wing is very different. 



There are at least five species or races of this genus in America, although 

 only one belongs with certainty to the Tnited Stages. A second, liowever, 

 (S.fif/ripcnnU), ^Mexican and Guatemalan, is not unlikely to occur in Arizona 

 or Xew Mexico. This diffei's in having the chin and throat reddish-fulvous, 

 not mouse-gray ; the belly tinged with yellow. 



Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Baird. 



KOTTGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 



TTirvndo serrij}en,ns. Am. Orn. Bio«,'. IV, 1S:]8, .5J»3. — Ir. Hirds Am. I, 1840, 193, pi. li. 

 Cofjih s. Box. Consp. 1850, 342. — Cassin. — Brf.wku, N. Am. Oi.l. I, 18;.7, 100, 

 pi. iv, fijj. ')0 (»'g.i]rs). — Baiud, Binls X. Am. 18.".S, 313. — Lord, Pr. K. A. Inst. IV, 

 18«4, 116 (Br. Columbia). —roopER&SrcKLr.v, P. R. R. R.'p. XIl, ii, 186 (W. Tm.). 

 — Hkeumann, p. \\. K. X ; Williamson's Rep. 36 (San .Vutonio, T»'.\. ; brt'cdinp;). — 

 CooPEP, Orn. Cal. I, 1^70, 110. Stehjidnptrrijj: s. Baiud, Birds N Am. 1858, 312; 

 Rev. 314. 



