CYrrfKLID.E-TllK SWIFTS. .|;Jo 



Chsetura (pelagica var. i) vauxi, (Towns.) DeKay. 



OBIOOH CHIMHST flWITT. 



Cypselus rnuri, Towksenp, J. A. N. So. VIIT, lS:i9, 148 (rolumbiii Rivor). -- In. Nnrmtivv, 

 isay. Chictura Viiiu-i, DkKay, N. Y. Zo.)!. II, 1H44, 3»). — Uaiui>, lUi.l.s N. Am. 

 145, pi. xviii. — St LATEi!, Cat. 282. — iB. P. Z. S. 18G;J, H»o ^(lual.iiiiila). - Ken.nkk- 

 LY, 1*. K. U. X, b, |il. xviii, f. 2. — ('ooI'ek it Sicklky, 1G'*. — Codi-Kii, Orii. C'lU. 1, 

 1870, 3')!. . ka nth ij lis vauxi, BoXAP. Cuiniitfs Il»>n»lus, XXVIII, lhr»4 ; iiotis Di-luttrc, 

 90. — Cassin, 111. I, 18r>5, 2'iO. — Xlvvueuuy, Zm.!. Cul. and Or. KduU-, 78 ; l*. U. H. 

 Surv. VI, 1857. 



Sp. Char. lii^^'ht sooty-brown ; mini) and undor parts paler; lij^'htcsit on the chin and 

 throat. Length, 4.0O; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 1.00. 



IIab. Paeilio coast, from Pugct'.s Sound to California. We.st coast to Guatemala (Scl. 

 P. Z. S. 18«;:3, 100); Yucatan (Lawk. Ann. X. Y. Lye. IX, 204). 



Thi.s species bears a very dose reseinblaiice to the common riiimney Swal- 

 low of tlie Ea.steni States, Iteing only readily distingui.sliable by its niutli 

 smaller size, 4.o() inches instead of 5.25. The winj^, too, is nearly an inch 

 shorter. The tarsus and the middle toe, however, seem absolutely lonj^er. 

 The rump is a little i)aler than in C. pelayica, as well as the uiuLt ]»arts, 

 where the chin and throat are lighter, almost dirty white, and gradually 

 becoming a little darker beliind, although even the hinder part of the belly 

 is much lighter than tlie back, even in strong contrast, instead of being of 

 the same color with it. Guatemalan specimens are iiuich darker. 



Habits. This western Swift was first discovered by Mr. Townsend on the 

 Columbia Iliver, where he found it having the i)rimitive liabits of the eastern 

 species, and breeding in hollow trees, forming a nest in a similar manner, and 

 laying four pure-white eggs. It differs from the common bird in its smaller 

 size and liixhter color. It is said to occur from l*uget Sound to California. 



Dr. Cooper met with these birds May 4, 1SG4, in the Coast Eange, twelve 

 miles south of Santa Clara. He was of the opinion that they had nests in 

 hollow trees at the summit of the mountains, but he was not able to find 

 any. He did not observe any at Fort Vancouver in the summer of 185o, 

 nor did he learn whether these birds are found in the central vallevs of 

 California. In 18GG they were observed to make their first appearance at 

 Santa Cruz on the 4tli of ^lay, though as they rarely descended to the town 

 they might have Ijeen on the hills earlier than this. On the 5th of October 

 he observed five of them, in company with a large flock o{ Hirundo hicolor, 

 spending the morning in hunting insects near the town. They were apparent- 

 ly delayed in their migration southward by a tliick fog and cold south-wind. 

 They may have been a late brood from the north. 



Dr. Kennerly obtained a single specimen of this .species at tlie Straits of 

 Fuca, showing that these birds .sometimes extend tlu-ir migrations up to the 

 40tli parallel. Neither Dr. Siickley nor Dr. Cooper was able to find this 

 Swift anywhere in Washington Territoiy , 



