294 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



pose it does these chafers, I no longer wonder at 

 the use of its middle toe, which is curiously fur- 

 nished with a serrated claw."* 



The species are scattered all over the world, and 

 Africa produces, among others, one (C. Longipennis) 

 with a curious feather proceeding from each wing, 

 twice the length of the body ; it is bearded only at 

 the tip. The whole tribe have the habit of perching 

 lengthwise on a branch, and not across it. 



Hirundo^ the Swallow. 



The whole structure of the Swallows shews that 

 the air is their home : the body is long and taper, 

 the plumage close and dense, the feet exceedingly 

 small, the tail forked, the sternum large, and the 

 wings enormous. The Swifts (Cypselus) perform 

 nearly all the functions of life on the wing, J except 

 sleeping and incubation, and when they rest it is 

 against the perpendicular face of a rock or wall, 



* Nat. Hist. Selborne, Jenyns' Edit., p. 129. 



t Its Latin name. 



J The following very curious and interesting fact, which was communi- 

 cated to us by the observer himself, seems to indicate that the Swallows are 

 unable (perhaps from the extreme smallness and weakness of their bill) 

 to capture prey in any other situation than the air. A few years ago, a 

 gentleman, while walking in his garden at Wareham, in Dorsetshire, 

 observed a Swallow suddenly alight on a broad gravelled walk a few 

 yards from his feet. Struck with the singularity of the bird's position 

 and attitude, he observed it more narrowly, and discovered a fly settled 

 on the walk, in close proximity to the bird, which was evidently watching 

 it. Both remained motionless for about a minute, when the fly rose into 

 the air, and the Swallow instantly opening its mouth, sprung up also, and 

 seizing it in a moment, pursued its course. 



