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XXIV 

 THE SWIFTS 



Swifts are remarkable for their great powers of flight, some of them 

 remaining the whole day on the wing, and cover enormous distances, 

 only returning to their nests and roosting haunts late at night. They 

 have long sickle shaped wings and short tails, exceptionally small legs 

 and feet, the toes of which are as a rule directed forward and armed 

 with sharp claws so that the birds instead of being able to perch 

 have to cling. Switts do not fly like most birds, with a regular beat 

 of the wings, but seem to whirl them rapidly round and round. 



They are all dull coloured birds of a brown or black plumage, some 

 of them having a little white on their backs and throats. They are 

 also remarkable for their nests, which are composed of materials 

 picked up on the wing and cemented together with saliva, some of 

 them, the "edible-birds nest" swiftlets, composing their nests en- 

 tirely of saliva. 



MALAYAN HOUSE SWIFT, 



The only one of the family found commonly in Burma, and very 

 locally distributed, being found along the river in the Myingyan 

 district, and the only place in Rangoon that I have seen it is in the 

 British Infantry lines, where it has attached itself to one pf the 

 barracks, building its nest along the lower verandahs. 



It is a small brown bird with a white patch in the small of its back, 

 reminding one rather of the European house martin ; chin and throat 

 white. They build large nests of grass, feathers, etc., cemented 

 together and placed in holes of buildings or cliffs. Laying two or 

 three long glossless white eggs. 



(No. 1074. Cypselus subfurcatus) 



PALM SWIFT. 



Palm-Swifts are the small brownish black birds which are always 

 to be seen round toddy palms, flying backwards and forwards with 

 shrill screams and rapid whirling wings. Builds a small pocket-like 

 nest on the underside of palm leaves, and in the hills build under the 

 eaves of Kachin houses, and lays two or three small white eggs, 



Burmese name Pyanhlwa. 

 (No. 1076. T. infumatus.) 



SPINE TAILS 



Are birds of which very little is known and generally keeps out of 

 sight, and are remarkable for having the strongest flight amongst birds. 



