THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW, OR AMERICAN SWIFT. 1(J9 



General William Clark assured me that he saw this species on the whole 

 of his route to the Pacific, and there can be no doubt that in those wilds it 

 still breeds in trees or rocky caverns. 



Its food consists entirely of insects, the pellets composed of the indigestible 

 parts of which it disgorges. It is furnished with glands which supply the 

 unctuous matter with which it fastens its nest. 



This species does not appear to extend its migrations farther east than the 

 British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is unknown in 

 Newfoundland and Labrador; nor was it until the 29th of May that I saw 

 some at Eastport in Maine, where a few breed. 



Chimney Swallow, Ilirundo pelasgia, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 48. 

 Cypselus pelasgius, Bonap. Syn., p. 63. 



Chimney Swift or Swallow, Cypselus pelasgius, Nutt. Mann., vol. i. p. 609. 

 Chimney Swallow or American Swift, Cypselus pelasgius, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 

 329; vol. v. p. 419. 



Brownish-black, lighter on the rump, with a slight greenish gloss on the 

 head and back; throat .greyish-white, lower parts greyish-brown, tinged with 

 green; loral space black, and a greyish-white line over the eye. Female 

 similar to the male. 



Male 41, 12. 



FAMILY VI. HIRUNDIN^E. SWALLOWS. 



Bill very short, much depressed and very broad at the base, compressed 

 toward the tip; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex, the edges over- 

 lapping, with a small notch close to the slightly decurved tip. Head broad, 

 depressed; neck very short, body moderate. Feet very short, tarsus very 

 short, anteriorly scutellate; toes of moderate size; first large, all scutellate in 

 their whole length; claws rather strong, compressed, well curved, acute. 

 Plumage soft, blended, glossy. No bristles at the base of the bill. Wings 

 extremely long, narrow, pointed, somewhat falciform; secondaries very short. 

 Tail generally emarginate, of twelve feathers. Mouth extremely wide; 

 cesophagus rather wide, without crop; stomach elliptical or roundish, muscu- 

 lar, with a dense rugous epithelium; coeca very small. Four pairs of inferior 

 laryngeal muscles. Nest in holes in banks, buildings, or trees, or attached to 

 the surface of these objects. Eggs from four to six, white, plain, or spotted. 



Vol. I. 26 



