by the B. 0. U. Expedition to Butch New Guinea. 95 



Fami ly Cypselid.e — Sivifts. 



The Swifts, though of especial interest, are not very 

 numerously represented in the collection. The commonest 

 species was that known as the Esculent Swiftlet (Collo- 

 calia fucipliagci)^ which produces the best kind of edible 

 nest. 



A very interesting discovery was the existence in New 

 Guinea of tlie large fork-tailed species, CoUocalia ivhtteheadi, 

 originally described by myself from the highlands of Luzon, 

 Philippine Islands. 



A remarkable Spine-tailed Swift {Chcutura novce-guinece) 

 is new to the National Collection. It was fairly common 

 on the Mimika River, and originally described by Count 

 Salvadori from specimens procured by D'Albertis on the 

 riy River. 



A pair of the magnificent Moustached Swift {Macroptcryx 

 mystacea), with a wing-expanse of more than two feet, was 

 also procured. The plumage of this bird is mostly grey, 

 but the crown, wings, and long deeply-forked tail are black 

 glossed with purplish-blue. The eye-brows and moustache- 

 stripes as well as the scapulars are white, the two former 

 being composed of lengthened, narrow, pointed plumes. 

 The male has a small chestnut spot behind the ear-coverts 

 which is absent in the female. The nesting-habits of this 

 species are very curious ; it makesaveiy small exposed half- 

 saucer-shaped nest of bark and feathers gummed by saliva to 

 a branch or stump which is barely large enough to contain 

 the single white egg, and ridiculously small in comparison 

 with the size of the bird. When incubating, the greater 

 part of the bird^s body must rest on the branch to which 

 the nest is attached. 



Families Capri.mulgid.e and Podargid^ — 

 Nightjars atid Frog-mouths. 



The common Nightjar of the country found along the 

 shingly banks of the rivers was Caprimu/gus tnacriirus, a 

 widely distributed species. After the ground had been 



