616 



been observed in Western Australia ; neither has it occurred in any of the collections formed at 

 Port Essington, although it doubtless pays that colony passing visits during its migrations." 



Tbe present species and Acanthyllis gigantea are said to be the swiftest birds in existence. 

 Tickell says that he never witnessed any thing equal to the prodigious swiftness of its move- 

 ments ; and he also remarks that it frequently changes its ground, being seldom seen for two 

 days together in the same spot. It is generally seen on the wing, and is evidently capable of 

 traversing immense distances without resting ; hence its range is very extensive. Von Schrenck 

 observes that, though he frequently watched these birds for a long time, he never saw one 

 settle on a branch or cliff, though they often passed close to them during their aerial evolutions. 

 Mr. Gould, speaking of its habits as observed by him in Australia, says (Handb. B. Austr. i. 

 p. 104) : — "The keel or breast-bone of this species is more than ordinarily deep, and the pectoral 

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

 form is especially and beautifully adapted for extended flights ; hence it readily passes from one 

 part of the world to another, and, if so disposed, may be engaged in hawking for flies on the 

 continent of Australia at one hour, and in the next be similarly employed in Tasmania. 



" 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 

 exception of the Crane, it is certainly the most lofty as well as the most vigorous flier of the 

 Australian birds. I have frequently observed in the middle of the hottest days, while lying 

 prostrate on the ground with 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 ; on the contrary, 

 the flocks that visit the more humid climate of Tasmania, necessarily seek their food near the 

 earth." 



So far as I can ascertain, there are no authentic details on record respecting the nidification 

 of the present species ; but it is said to nest in rocks, and to build gelatinous nests. Dr. Eadde 

 says, however, that he was assured by the Buriats of Siberia that this Swift builds its nest in 

 hollow pine trees — which may very possibly be correct, as its small American ally, Chcetura 

 pelasgia, certainly builds a nest of twigs, cemented together with a tough gelatinous substance, 

 which it places in hollow trees. Mr. Swinhoe, writing respecting the Needle-tailed Swift, remarks 

 (Ibis, 1870, p. 90), "A Chinese work on the island of Hainan, in its list of birds, mentions a 

 large species of Swallow, ' as big a Dove,' which makes its nest in the caves of certain small 

 islands off the southerly coast of Hainan. It adds that, in autumn, when the birds desert their 

 nests, the nests are collected and sold for food, and that epicures esteem them much more highly 

 than those imported from the Straits of Malacca. The builders of such nests must surely be 

 this large Spine-tailed Swift. We passed close to some of these islands, but looked in vain for 

 the birds. They had not yet returned to their breeding-places. None of the nests were to be 

 purchased in the various markets we visited in Hainan towns ; but out of a pirate the gunboat 

 captured, off Lingshuy, we took a parcel of rather large gelatinous nests, which possibly were 

 collected from the neighbouring island rocks ; but we could procure no satisfactory evidence to 

 show that they were. I therefore was forced, with much reluctance, to abandon the determina- 



