144 



U. S. p. E. K. EXP. AND SURVEyS — ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



CHAETURA, Stephens. 



Chaetura, Stephens, Shaw's. Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, ii, 1825, 76, (type, C.pelasgia.) " 



^canthylia, Boie, Isis, 1836, 971, (,<d. spinicauda.) 4 



Ch — Tail very short, scarcely more than two-fifths the wings ; slightly rounded ; the shafts stiffened and extending some 

 distance beyond the feathers in a rigid spine. First primary longest. Legs covered by a naked skin, without scutellae or 

 feathers. Tarsus longer than middle toe. Lateral toes equal, nearly as long as the middle. Hind toe scarcely versatile, or 

 quite posterior ; with the claw, less than the middle ante 'or without it. Toes slender ; claws moderate. Feathers of the base 

 of the bill not extending beyond the beginning of the nostrils. 



The spinous processes to the nearly even tail readily distinguish this genus from any other of 

 the North American Cypselidae. The two North American species differ chiefly in size. 



I have restored the generic name of Chaetura to this species as heing prior to Acanthylis. 

 There is, indeed, a genus Ohaeiurus of earlier date in botany, but for all the practical purposes 

 of synonymy the two names are perfectly distinct ; more so, in fact, than Picus and Pica, 

 which belong to the same class instead of to different kingdoms. 



CHAETURA PELASGIA, Stephens. 



Chimney Swallow. 



Hirundo pelasgia, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 345.— Wils. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 48 ; pi. xxxix, fig. 1. 



Cypselus pelasgia, Ann. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 329 : V, 419 ; p'. 158. 



Chaetura pelasgia, Stephens, in Shaw's Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, 11, 1835,76. — Is. Birds America I, 1840, 164; pi. 44. 



Manthylis pelasgia, " Temm."— Bon. Consp. 1850, 64.— Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 241. 



Hemiprocne pelasgia, Streubel, Isis, 1848, 363. 



Acaleated swalloa, Fenn. Arc. Zool. II, 1785, 432. 



Sf. Ch. — ^Tail slightly rounded, of a sooty brown all over, except on the throat, which becomes considerably lighter from the 

 breast to the bill. Above with a greenish tinge ; the rump a little paler. Length, 5.25 inches ; wing, 5.10 ; tail, 2.15. 

 Hab. — Eastern United States to slopes of Rocky mountains .' 



The western range of the chimney bird is not well ascertained, the only specimens brought in 

 by the expeditions being one from Bijoux Hill, Nebraska, and several from Independence. 



lAat of specimens. 



*IriB dark brown. 



