71 



CYPSELUS. SWIFT. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum basi glabrum, et ti i- 

 angulari, versus apicem an- 

 gustatum, utrinque com- 

 pressum; mandibula infe- 

 riore apicem recurvata. 



Rictus capite amplior. 



Pedes simplices, digitis om- 

 nibus anticis ad imumfissis. 



Beak smooth, and triangular 

 at the base, narrow towards 

 the tip, and compressed on 

 both sides ; the upper man- 

 dible recurved at the point. 



Gape very wide. 



Feet simple, with all the toes 

 divided from their origin, 

 and placed forwards. 



TThE birds comprised in this genus are remark- 

 able for the shortness of their legs, which are co- 

 vered with feathers to the toes ; and likewise for 

 having all the latter placed forwards, and composed 

 of two phalanges only, which enables them to ad- 

 here very firmly to the perpendicular sides of walls, 

 and such like places, which they frequent : they 

 feed on insects, which they take during flight, not 

 settling on the ground to collect them, like many 

 birds, from the great difliculty they have in rising. 

 They are found throughout both continents. 



