ACANTHYLIS CAUDACUTA. 



(Spine-Tailed Swift) 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, and ear coverts, deep shining green, strongly tinged with brown ; lores, deep black ; forehead, throat, 

 inner webs of secondaries nearest the back, a patch on the lower part of the flanks, and the under tail coverts, white ; wings and tail, deep 

 shining blackish green, with purple reflexions ; centre of the back, greyish brown, becoming darker towards the rump ; chest and abdomen, 

 brown ; bill, black ; feet, brown. 



Length, to the extremity of tail, 7i inches ; wing, 8i ; tail, 2\ ; bill, f ; tarsus, |. 



Few, if any, of the swallow tribe exceed the present species in size; and probably few other birds in existence can compete with 

 it in rapidity of flight. The immense development of the pectoral muscles and depth of the keel of the breast, at once proclaim its power and 

 endurance. The wings project two inches beyond the tail. So rapid a bird can with the greatest ease traverse the continent of Australia in 

 a short time, a day or two amply sufiicing for such a journey. The Spine-tailed Swallow (so called from the prickles at the end of the tail) 

 is found in all parts of Australia (perhaps excepting West Australia). It occasionally visits Tasmania, and is known to migrate to great 

 distances on the continent of Asia. Mr. Jerdon says its breeding place is among the crags and precipices of the Himalayas. When shot it 

 falls very much in advance of the position in which it is struck, the momentum of its rapid flight carrying it to the ground like the stick of a 

 sky rocket. Its arrival is sudden during the months of January and February, after which time it takes its departure to other climes. Its 

 visits to Brisbane are irregular and of short duration. 



CYPSELUS AIJSTEALIS. 



(Australian Swift.) 



Throat and rump, white ; upper and under surface of the body, brown — the back having a bronzy metallic lustre ; each feather of the under 

 surface, margined with white ; wings and tail, dark brown ; bill and feet, black ; irides, very dark brown. 



Length, 6i inches ; wing, 7i ; tail, 3i ; tarsus, 7-16ths ; bill, f . 



This species was first discovered by Mr. Grould, on the Upper Hunter Eiver, in 1838. It is found in New South Wales and 

 Queensland, and is, I believe, widely spread over the whole of Australia. The Austrahan Swift flies high, and performs immense sweeps and 

 circles while seeking its insect food, being frequently in company with the Spine-tailed Swift. Like that bird it performs long and extensive 

 migrations to distant parts of the Asiatic continent. Its visits to the southern portions of Australia are confined to the latter part of 

 summer, and mu.st be considered very irregular, and much dependant on the state of the atmosphere, as in seasons of great dryness it is, 

 perhaps, never seen. 



