IlS CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The TREE SWIFTS (Dendrochelidou) constitute a group whose various species form a link 

 between the Swallows and the Swifts Proper. These birds are recognisable by their elongate body, 

 long wings, in which the two first quills are of equal length, their long, deeply-forked tail, and the 

 crest with which their head is adorned : their feet resemble those of the Swallow. 



THE KLECHO. 



The Klecho (Dcndrochelidon kkchd), so called from the sound of its cry, is about seven inches 

 long ; the wing measures six, and the tail three inches. Upon the upper part of the body the 

 plumage is of a brilliant metallic steel-green ; the wing-covers have a blueish lustre ; the quills are 

 blackish on the inner and blue on the outer web, and the shoulder-feathers white. The belly is 

 white, the rest of the under surface and rump of a beautiful deep grey. The male has a reddish 

 brown and the female a black spot near the eye. 



The Tree Swifts differ almost entirely in their mode of life from any other members of their 

 family. Extensive woods and dense forests are their favourite resorts, such being preferred as are 

 in lowland districts ; according to Jerdon, the Indian Klecho constantly builds in these localities, 

 flying from thence over the streams or lakes in the vicinity in search of insects on which it subsists. 

 Whilst resting from its labours it usually selects a withered tree for its perch, and amuses itself by 

 expanding and playing with the beautiful crest upon its head. Its flight is excellent, but it climbs 

 awkwardly among the branches. When upon the wing it utters almost incessantly a loud parrot-like 

 scream ; when perched its voice is not quite so harsh. We learn from Bernstein that, unlike all 

 other Swifts, the Klecho usually builds at the summit of a tree, upon a branch of about an inch in 

 thickness. Its strange nest, the walls of which are scarcely thicker than parchment, is constructed 

 of bits of bark, feathers, and other similar materials, woven together, and cemented with saliva. The 

 great peculiarity of the nest consists in the fact that it is only just big enough to contain the one large 

 egg laid by the female, and that the walls are far too delicate to bear the weight of the brooding 

 mother ; the bird is, therefore, compelled to perch and support herself upon the branch, and merely 

 allow her breast to cover and warm her offspring. The female lays twice in the season ; the egg is 

 perfectly oval and of a blueish tint. 



The SALAN GAMES {Collocalid) are a group of Swifts whose edible nests have been famous 

 from time immemorial, but as to whose life and habits little information has been acquired. These 

 birds are distinguished by their small size, long wings, in which the second quill exceeds the rest in 

 length, their forked or slightly incised tail, small but powerful beak, and delicate feet, the exterior toe 

 of which is directed backwards. In all the members of this group the salivary glands are much 

 developed. 



THE SALANGANE PROPER. 

 The Salangane Proper {Collocalia nidifica), as we will call the species most extensively met 

 with, is from four to five inches long, and twelve inches broad. Its wing measures about four inches 

 and a half, and its tail two and a quarter. The plumage is of a greyish brown, paler upon the 

 under surface; the quills and tail are blackish, and the vicinity of the eyes marked with white. The 

 feathers of the adult have a slight metallic lustre that is not perceptible in the young. It was 

 formerly supposed that these remarkable birds were only found upon the Sunda Islands, but modern 

 observation has proved that they also inhabit the mountains of Assam, the Neilgherries, Sikkim, 

 and Ceylon. Most contradictory tales have been told by travellers as to the materials of which 

 their famous edible nests are composed. 



