CYPSELI1SLE. 



ss 



numbers to the sides of caves, or in hollows of rocks ; some are concealed in holes in the earth ; and Mr. Cuming has 

 kindly informed me that they are found inland, in the Philippine Islands, to the distance of fifty or sixty miles. The 

 formation of the nest differs with the species. Some appear to be formed of flakes and threads cemented together, making 

 an almost solid nest ; others are composed entirely of threads of viscous matter. The exterior exhibits many nearly 

 straight threads, which incline and are attached to each other ; strengthened in front by some few short pieces of slender 

 sticks. The interior, which is rather shallow, shows many layers of irregular network, formed of a multitude of 

 threads, that cross and recross each other in every direction. These threads are of a yellowish semi-transparent white, 

 and have been observed hanging from the bills of the birds while engaged in forming their nests. The female usually 

 lays two eggs. 



1. C. esculenta (Linn.) Briss. Orn. t. 46. f. 2. A. 



2. C. nidiftca Lath. Hist, of Birds, pi. 113. 



3. C.fuciphaga (Thunb.) Act. Holm, xxxiii. 151. t. 4. 



4. C. Troglodytes G. R. Gray. 



+ 



Acanthylis Bote* 



Bill small, depressed, with the culmen arched, and the sides gradually compressed to the tip; the 

 nostrils basal, lateral, placed in a membranous groove, with the opening longitudinal and small. Wings 

 lengthened and narrowed, with the first quill longest. Tail short, even, or slightly rounded, with the 

 shaft of each feather more or less prolonged into acute points. Tarsi naked, thick, and shorter than the 

 middle toe. Toes short, thick, and compressed; Avith the claws long, curved, and compressed. 



These migratory birds are found in America, both North and South, India and its isles, and Australia. They live 

 in flocks, feeding on insects taken during their flight, which is exceedingly swift, and is capable of being long sustained; 

 and they vary their positions in the air with great facility, and with little apparent motion of the wings. When rest- 

 ing on the sides of rocks, trees, and chimneys, they support themselves by their sharp and strong claws, and at the same 

 time are assisted by the thorny extremities of their tail-feathers. Their nests are usually placed in holes of trees, 

 sometimes in rocks ; that of the American species is composed, says Wilson, of very small twigs, fastened together 

 with a strong adhesive glue or gum, which is secreted by two glands, one on each side of the hind head, and mixes 

 with the saliva. With this glue, which becomes as hard as the twigs themselves, the whole is thickly besmeared. The 

 nest itself is small and shallow, attached by one side or edge to the wall, and is totally destitute of soft lining. 

 The eggs are generally four in number. 



1. A. pelasgia (Linn.) Boie, AVils. American Ornithology, pi. 39. 

 f. 1. 



2. A. acuta (Gmel.) PI. enl. 544. f. 1. — Hirundo martinica 

 Briss. Orn. t. 45. f. 2. 



3. A. caudacuta (Lath.) Gould, Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 88., Birds 

 of Austr. pi. — Chfetura australis et Hirundo fusca Steph. ; Chse- 

 tura macroptera Swains. 111. Orn. n. s. pi. 42. 



4. A. nudipes (Hodgs.) Deless. Souv. d'un Voy. dans l'lnde, t. 9. 

 — Cypselus leuconotus Deless. Mag. de Zool. 1 840. t. 20. 



5. A. gigantea (V. Hass.) PI. col. 364. 



6. A. collaris (Pr. Max.) PI. col. 195. — Hirundo albicollis 



Vieill. Gallerie des Ois. t. 120.; H. zonaris Shaw, Cim. Phys. pi. 

 55.? 



7. A. brunnitorques Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1844. 81. 



8. A. Sabini Gray, Griff. An. Kingd. ii. 70. — Chaatura bicolor 

 Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 7- 



9. A. oxyura (Vieill.) N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xiv. 473. 



10. A. ? senex (Temm.) PI. col. 397. 



11. A.? montivagus (D' Orb. & Lafr.) Voy. dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. 

 t. 42. f. 1. 



12. A. spinicauda (Temm.) PI. enl. 726. f. 2. 



13. A. Ciris (Pall.) Zoogr. 1. 541. 



* This division was first formed under the name of Cluetura, by Mr. Stephens, in 1825 ; but, that word having been previously employed, 

 it becomes necessary to adopt M. Boie's name proposed in 1 826. Hirund-apus of Mr. Hodgson ( 1 836), Hemiprocne of Nitzsch, and Pallene 

 of M. Lesson (J 837) are synonymous. 



February, 1845. 



