OYPSELID.E — THE SWIFTS. 



423 



the outside with feathers of various colors. As there is no shelf to receive 

 the eggs, it is believed that these are cemented against the sides of the 

 tube, and brooded on by the bird wiiile in an ujn-iglit jMisition. Din- 

 drochcliiloii khrho, of Java, etc., builds a narrow Hat platform on a horizon- 

 tal l)ranch, of feathers, moss, etc., cementoil together, and lays in it a single 

 egg. The nest is so small that tlie bird sits on tlie iiranch and covers the 

 egg with the end of her i)e]ly. 



Owing to tiie almost incredible rai)idity in Hight of the Swifts, and the great 

 height in tiie air at wliich they usually keep themselves, the North Americiin 

 species arc, of all our land birds, the most dillicult to procmv, oidy living 

 sulliciently near the surface of the ground to be reached by a gun in damp 

 weather, and then re([uiring great skill to slioot tliem. Their nests, too, 

 are generally situated in inaccessible places, usually high perpendicular 

 or overhanging mountain-cliffs. Althougli our four species are sulliciently 

 abundant, and are frequently seen in flocks of thousands, it is only the com- 

 mon Chimney Swift that is to be met with at all regularly in museums. 



Subfamily CYPSELINJE. 



Tlie essential character of this subfamily, as stated already, is to be found 

 in the feathered tarsus ; the reduction of the normal number of phalanges in 

 the middle toe from 4 to ',\, and of tlie outer toe from T) to 3, as well as 

 in the anterior or lateral position of the hind toe, not posterior. Of the 

 two genera assigned to it by Dr. Sclater, oiu!, Cjipselua, is enlarged by him so 

 as to include the small West Indian Palm Swifts, Tnrhornis of Gosse. 



Genus FANYPTILA, Cabanis. 



Panypdln, Cabanis, Wipgm. Arcliiv, 18 »7, i, 345. — Bitumeister, Thierc Bras. Vogcl, I, 



IS.'it), 368. (Typo, llintndo cayaiicnsi.t, Gm.) 

 Psnidoprnnir, Stukuiiki,, Isis, 1848, 357. (Siiinc type.) 



Gen. CiiAii. Tail liall" as long as the wings, moderately forked ; tlie feathers rather 

 lanceolate, roimded at 

 tip, the .iliarts stifl'ened, 

 but not projfotintr. First 

 primary shorter than the 

 second. Tarsi, toes, and 

 claws viTy thi(?k and 

 stent; the former shorter 

 than the niitldlc toe and 

 claw, which is rather 

 longer than the lateral 



" . PanyjMa vifiannlriira. 



one; nnddie claw longer 



than its digit. Hind too very short; half versatile, or inserted on the side of the tarsu.s. 



Tarsi and toes feathered to the claws, except on the nndt>r snrfaces. 



