104 THE AUSTRALIAN NEEDLE-TAILED SWALLOW. 



its nest. This curious habit of the Night-hawk is seen in New York City. Its singular 

 booming sound, alternating with peep-peep, is quite distinct above the noise of the streets. 



Two other species of Night-hawks are seen in the Northern States. 



These birds are active about the early morning hours and during twilight, while the 

 Whip -poor- Will is wholly nocturnal in habit, spending the day in sleep, sitting on some limb 

 lengthwise. 



SWAL LOWS. 



THE SWIFTS. 



The close-set plumage of the Swallow Tribe, their long, sickle like wings, their stiff, 

 firm tail, forked in most of the species, and their slight legs and toes, are characteristics which 

 mark them out as birds which spend the greater part of their existence in the air, and exercise 

 their wings far more than their feet. 



They all feed upon insects, and capture their prey in the air, ascending at one time to 

 such a height that they are hardly perceptible to the naked eye, and look merely like tiny 

 dots moving upon the sky, while at other seasons they skim the earth and play for hours 

 together over the surface of the water, in chase of the gnats that emerge in myriads from the 

 streams, during the time and season when they assume the perfect form. The gape of the 

 mouth is therefore exceedingly grea! in these birds, reaching as far as a point below the eyes. 

 The bill itself is very short, flattened, pointed, slightly curved downwards, and broad at the 

 base. 



The group, which is scientifically termed the Hirundinidse, is a very large one, and is 

 divided into two lesser groups, the members of one being classed together under the title of 

 Swifts, while the others are known by the name of Swallows. With the former birds we have 

 first to deal. 



The Swifts, technically called the "Cypselime," or Cypseline birds, are readily distin- 

 guished from the Swallows by the Aery great comparative length of the two first primary 

 feathers of the wing, which are either equal to each other, or have the second feather longer 

 than the first. The secondaries are remarkably small, being nearly concealed under the coverts. 

 There are ten primaries in the wing, and the same number of quill feathers in the tail. 



The Australian Spine-tailed, Needle-tailed Swallow, or Swiet, as it ought rather 

 to be called, is the largest of all the Swallow tribe, measuring no less than twenty-eight inches 

 in total length when the wings are closed, and twenty inches to the extremity of the tail. 



The title of Needle-tail has been given to this bird on account of the curious formation 

 of the tail-feathers, which are short and even, and have their extremities devoid of web, so as 

 to forma row of sharp, short points, as if a number of needles had been thrust through the 

 shaft of each feather. This species is a native of Australia, and as may be seen from the fol- 

 lowing extract from Mr. Gould's work on the Birds of Australia, is very interesting and curious 

 in its habits, and worthy of special attention from any naturalist who may chance to have an 

 opportunity of watching it. 



'•The keel or breast-bone of this species is more than ordinarily deep, and the pectoral 

 muscles more developed than in any other bird of its weight with which 1 am acquainted. Its 

 whole form is especially and beautifully adapted for aerial progression, and. as its lengthened 

 wings would lead us to imagine, its power of flight, both for rapidity and extension, is truly 

 amazing. Hence it readily passes from one part of the country to another, and if so disposed 

 may be engaged in hunting for flies on the continent of Australia at one minute, and in half- 

 an-hour be similarly employed in Van Diemen's Land. 



'•So exclusively is this bird a tenant of the air, that I never in any instance saw it perch, 

 and but rarely sufficiently near the earth to admit of a successful shot : it is only late in the 

 evening and during lowery weather that such an object can be accomplished. With the excep- 



