SWIFT. 371 



wanting in the fourth. This structure is found in the genus 

 Cypselus and its ally Panyptila (an American form) but not, 

 so far as is known, in other genera of Cypselidce.* 



* An example of the " Needle-tailed Swallow" of Latham (Synops. Suppl. ii. 

 p. 259), a species belonging to the genus Acanthyllis or Chcetura of modern 

 ornithologists and to the family Cypselidte, was shot at Great Horkeslcy near 

 Colchester, July 8th, 1846, having been seen there two days before; and, while 

 yet fresh, was examined by Newman, Doubleday, Mr. Fisher and the Author of 

 this work (Zool. p. 1492). Mr. Yarrell, however, did not think fit to mention 

 it in his last edition, doubtless regarding it as a straggler from Australia. 

 While the present sheet was under revision the occurrence of a second example 

 in England became known to the Editor. This was killed July 26th or 27th, 

 1879, near Ringwood, having been a few days before seen flying with a com- 

 panion over the river Avon by Mr. Corbin, who kindly allowed the specimen to 

 be exhibited to the Zoological Society, January 6tb, 1880. The species is not 

 known to have been noticed in Western Asia or elsewhere in Europe ; yet, when 

 its wide range and great power of flight is considered, its appearance here need 

 not excite surprise. Though first made known in 1802, from a specimen obtained 

 in New South Wales) to which country and to Tasmania Acanthyllis or Chcetura 

 caudacuta annually migrates), it was procured by Steller many years before near 

 Irkutsk, and was observed in Dauuria by Pallas, who, not recognizing its identity 

 with Latham's species, redescribed it (Zoogr. R.-As. i. p. 541) under the name 

 of Hirundo ciris. It has since been recorded from Amoorland and China, as 

 well as Nepaul, Sikim and Bhotan, for it is identical with the C. nudipes of Mr. 

 Hodgson ; and it is said to breed in the Himalayas, as it doubtless does in 

 Eastern Siberia. The genus can be easily distinguished by the structure of the 

 tail, in which the shaft of each feather protrudes beyond the web as a sharp 

 spine, and by the feet being formed on the ordinary model, and not as in Cypselus. 



