170 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



less versatile or turned sidewise; the formula of the phalanges is usually 

 abnormal, 2-3-3-3; the claws are very sharp and curved, but none of them 

 pectinate as in the Goatsuckers; plumage compact, hard, somber colored; 

 sternum deeply keeled, broad behind, usually with no notches; there is 

 no ambiens, semitendinosus, accessory semitendinosus or accessory femoro- 

 caudal; the coeca are wanting; oil gland naked; the salivary glands highly 

 developed, furnishing an abundant secretion used in the construction of 

 their nests; the eggs are several, white and narrowly oval in shape; the 

 young are naked and perfectly helpless. 



The characteristics of this family are practically those of the suborder, 

 and the 100 members of it are widely distributed in the temperate and 

 tropical regions. The single representative of the family which is found 

 in New York State belongs to the subfamily of Spine-tailed swifts, with 

 mucronate tail feathers, helping it in clinging to upright surfaces like the 

 interior of hollow trees, differing also from the typical swifts in having 

 the joints of the front toes 3-4-5 in number. 



Swifts, like the swallows and the goatsuckers, are very beneficial 

 as they are exclusively insectivorous in diet, feeding on flying insects which 

 they destroy in immense numbers. Although some parasitic hymenoptera 

 are devoured, the majority of these insects are destructive to agricultural 

 interests as well as to the peace and comfort of humanity. The swifts 

 have practically abandoned the hollow trees which they occupied both 

 for roosting and nesting sites before the advent of white men in America 

 and, on the whole, have profited by the change to the civilized conditions 

 which prevail over the greater portion of the country; but many people 

 nowadays cover their chimneys with screens so that the swifts can not 

 enter, or inadvertently build fires in those occupied by the swifts and 

 destroy the young birds late in summer. Those who wish to encourage 

 the swifts, but can not furnish them with disused chimneys during the 

 nesting season, can assist them by erecting dummy chimneys (even those 

 constructed of boards will serve the purpose) 6 to 8 feet in depth, which 

 they will appropriate and thus rear their young in comfort and furnish 

 abundant amusement to those nature lovers who wish to observe their 

 nesting operations. 



