BIRDS OF KANSAS. 349 



aspect; the female more rufous. Wing patch of the male larger (at least an 

 inch long), and, like the tail patch, crossing the whole breadth of the feathers." 



This pale variety does not appear to differ in the least in its 

 habits, actions or notes from the Eastern bird, C. virginianus, 

 and, from the measurements that I have made, varies but little, 

 if any, in size. Their eggs, however, average a little larger, 

 and are paler in color. 



SUBORDER CYPSELL SWIFTS. 



Middle toe not distinctly longer than lateral toes, its claw with edge not pec- 

 tinated; gape without bristles; plumage plain and compact, the feathers with 

 smooth surface. (Ridgway.) 



FAMILY MICROPODID-ffi. SWIFTS. 



"Bill very small, without notch, triangular, much broader than high; the 

 culmen not one-sixth the gape. Anterior toes cleft to the base, each with three 

 joints (in the typical species), and covered with skin or feathers; the middle 

 claw without any serrations; the lateral toes nearly equal to the middle. Bill 

 without bristles, but with minute feathers extending along the under margin of 

 the nostrils. Tail feathers ten. Nostrils elongated, superior, and very close 

 together. Plumage compact. Primaries ten, elongated, falcate." 



SUBFAMILY CILETURIN7E. SPINE-TAILED SWIFTS. 

 Tarsi and toes naked; the hind toe directed backward. (Ridgway.) 



GENUS CENTURA STEPHENS. 



"Tail very short, scarcely more than two-fifths the wing; slightly rounded; 

 the shafts stiffened and extending some distance beyond the feathers in a rigid 

 spine. First primary longest. Legs covered by a naked skin, without scutella 

 or feathers. Tarsus longer than middle toe. Lateral toes equal, nearly as long 

 as the middle. Hind toe scarcely versatile, or quite posterior; including claw, 

 less than the middle anterior without it. Toes slender; claws moderate. Feath- 

 ers of the base of the bill not extending beyond the beginning of the nostrils.' 



Chsetura pelagica (LINN.). 



CHIMNEY SWIFT. 

 PLATE XXIII. 



Summer resident; abundant in the eastern part of the State. 

 Arrive the last of April; begin laying the latter part of May; 

 return in September; a few occasionally remain into October. 



B. 109. R. 351. C. 405. G. 162, 166. U. 423. 



HABITAT. Eastern North America; north to Labrador, Man- 

 itoba, etc. ; west to the edge of the plains; south of the United 



