ELECHO SWALLOW. 105 



tion of tlie crane, it is certainly the most lofty as well as the most vigorous flyer of the Aus- 

 ti-alian birds. I have frequently observed in the middle of the hottest days, while lying 

 prostrate on the ground witli my eyes directed upwards, the cloudless blue sky peopled at an 

 immense elevation by hundreds of these birds, performing extensive curves and sweeping 

 flights, doubtless attracted thither by the insects that soar aloft during serene weather. 

 Hence, as I have before stated, few birds are more difiicidt to obtain, particularly on the con- 

 tinent of Australia, where long droughts are so prevalent ; on the contrary, the flocks that 

 visit the more humid climate of Van Diemen's Land, where they necessarily seek their 

 food nearer the earth, are often greatly diminished by the gun during their stay. 



"I regret that I could ascertain no particulars whatever respecting the nidification of 

 this fine bird, but we may naturally conclude that both rocks and holes in the larger 

 trees are selected as sites for this purpose, as well as for a roosting-place during the night. 

 Before retiring to roost, which it does immediately after the sun has gone dovra, the Spine- 

 tailed Swallows may frequently be seen either singly or in pairs, sweeping up the gullies or 

 flying "with immense rapidity just above the top of the trees, their never- tiring wings enabling 

 them to perform their evolutions in the capture of insects, and of sustaining themselves in the 

 air during the entire day without cessation." 



The Australian Needle-tailed Swallow is a most beautiful bird in its coloring, as well as 

 handsome in size and elegance of shape. The general color of this bird is olive brown, exceed- 

 ingly dark in the chest and alidomen, and washed with a dark green tinge upon the back of 

 the head, the wings, and the tail. Before the eyes there is a velvet-black patch, and a large 

 portion of the under parts of the body is white, including the chin, throat, under tail-coverts, 

 and the inner web of the secondaries. There is also a white band extending across the 

 forehead. 



A CLOSELY allied species is the Aculeated Swallow {Ohmtura pelasgia). 



This bird is a native of many parts of America, being found in Louisiana, Carolina, and 

 even in Pennsylvania. It is chiefly remarkable for the ingenuity which it exliibits in the 

 construction of its singular nest. Choosing some convenient locality, such as a rocky crevice, 

 or the unused chimney of a house, the bird commences its labors by i:)utting together a slight 

 platform of dry twigs, which it cements together with certain vegetable gums. So large is 

 this platform, that it sometimes causes considerable inconvenience to the inhabitants of the 

 house where the Swallow has taken up its residence, as it completely stops up the orifice of 

 the chimney. Upon this platform is formed a kind of cradle nest, also composed of small 

 twigs, which are woven into a kind of rude basket, and also cemented together. 



The eggs of this species are very large in proportion to the dimensions of the parent bird ; 

 their color is grayish-white, streaked and sj)otted with black and brown towards the large end. 

 The general color of the plumage is brown, and the throat is whitish-gray. 



The birds wliich belong to the genus Macropteryx, or Long-winged Swifts, possess wings 

 of very great comparative length, owing to the development of the two first primary feathers 

 of the wings, which are nearly equal to each other in length, the second being, slightly the 

 longer of the two. Tliey may, however, be easily distinguished from the members of the genus 

 Acanthylis, by the fonnation of the tail, which, instead of being composed of feathers of 

 nearly equal length, and tipped with sharp points, is forked after the manner usually observed 

 in the smaller tribes. The feet are furnished wath four toes, the hinder toe being directed 

 backward. 



The Klecho Swallow, or Large-winc4ED Swift, as it is more rightly tenned, as it 

 belongs to the ranks of the Cypseline birds, is considered of great value by ornithologists as 

 supplying a link in the chain that connects the Swifts with the Swallows. Like the Swifts in 

 general, its feet are well adapted for climlnng, and supplied with firm curved claws ; and like 

 the Swallows, its hinder toe is directed backwards, and cannot be brought round in a line with 

 the remaining toes. It is a very handsome bird, in its coloring nearly equalling the Needle- 

 tailed Swift which has just been described. The color of the upper parts of the body is deep 



