S) Lucas, the Main Divisions of the Swifts. [January 
NoTe.—Since the foregoing paper was written I have learned, 
through the courtesy of Dr. Stejneger, that Mr. Frank H. Nutter 
contributed an account of the Bittern’s pumping to the ‘Odlogist’s 
Exchange’ for April, 1888 (Vol. I, No. 4). I subjoin it in full. 
‘“By the way, did you ever see a Bittern while engaged in its 
serenade? It is a ludicrous performance. One favored me with 
it once within easy range of my telescope. After standing in a 
meditative position for some time it would slowly raise its head 
and stretch up its neck till its bill pointed nearly straight upwards, 
when it commenced by several times opening and shutting its big 
beak with a snap that was plainly heard, though five or six hun- 
dred feet distant; it then uttered the characteristic notes from 
which it takes its common name of ‘stake-driver’ or ‘thunder- 
pumper’; and truly it seems much like pumping, for each syllable 
seems to originate deep in the interior of the bird and to be ejected 
only with the greatest muscular exertion, puffing out its feathers 
and working its long neck up and down, as if choking to death. 
After a short season of meditation to recuperate its strength, the 
performance is again repeated, and doubtless to its mate, engaged 
in her maternal duties, it is the sweetest of music.” 
THE MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE SWIFTS. 
BY FREDERIC A. LUCAS. 
Since Dr. Sclater’s paper on the genera and species of Swift 
(P. Z. S., 1865, pp. 593-617) they have been allowed to remain 
in the two subfamilies, Cypselinze and Cheeturinz, into which he 
there divides this group. Dr. Sclater’s divisions are founded 
solely on external characters, and he is very careful to state that 
he has paid but little attention to the species of the genera Co/- 
localia and Dendrochelidon. In a footnote Dr. Sclater refers 
to a paper by Dr. Bernstein (Acta Academiz Leopoldino-Caroline, 
Vol. 26, p. 15) as showing conclusively that Collocaléa is in 
every point of view strictly Cypseline, and most nearly allied to 
Dendrochelidon. While I have not read Dr. Bernstein’s paper 
