1 60 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



spines at the end of their tail-feathers, using 

 these as do some of the Woodpeckers when the 

 latter cling to a tree-trunk. The stretch of 

 their wings is something amazing compared with 

 their length, the distance from tip to tip being 

 more than twelve inches, while from tip of bill 

 to end of tail-feathers, when stretched out, they 

 measure only a little more than four inches. 

 This extraordinary wing enables them to per- 

 form miracles of flight. It is said they some- 

 times cover a thousand miles in twenty-four 

 hours. 



The Swift on the wing suggests by his gen- 

 eral appearance the bat. As he flies, he utters 

 a single note rapidly. 



PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. General coloration, 

 dusky-grayish ; throat, pale-grayish ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, lighter than the back. 



Summer resident. 



THE BLACK SWIFT. 



This Swift is darker than the Vaux's, and 

 much larger, its length being seven inches and 

 more. It is a bird of splendid flight and lofty 

 habitat. Mr. Anthony states that it nests in 



