144 
U. S. P. R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 
CHAETURA, Stephens. 
Chaetura, Stephens, Shaw's.Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, n, 1825, 76, (type, C.pelasgia.) 
Jlcanlhylis, Boie, Isis, 1826, 971, {A. spinicauda.) 
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 anterior 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 being prior to Acanthylis. 
There is, indeed, a genus Chaeturus 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, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 329 : V, 419 ; pi. 158. 
Ckaelura pelasgia, Stephens, in Shaw's Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, n, 1825, 76.— Ib. Birds America I, 1840, 164 ; pi. 44. 
Jlcanthylis pelasgia, " Temm."— Bon. Consp. 1850, 64.— Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 241. 
Hemiprocne pelasgia, Streubel, Isis, 1848, 363. 
Aculeated swallow, Penn. Arc. Zool. II, 1785, 432. 
Sp. 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. 
Hob. — 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. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. j 
tn 
Locality. 
When col- 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. No. j 
Collected by— j £ 
I 
Stretch of j 
Wing. 
Tail. j 
E-< 
Middle toe. 
Claw alone, j 
Bill above, j 
Along gape. | 
Specimen 
measured 
1010 
6485 
4781 
7526 
8317 
9 
S 
May 22, 1843 
12.50 
5.17 
Fresh.*.. 
Skin .... 
la 7. 
5.12 
2.30 
0.55 
0.50 
0.20 
0.21 
0.67 
Bijoux Hill, N. T 
May 15, 1856 
Lt. G. K. Warren 
W. M. Magravv.. 
do 
34 
4.87 
12.50 
5.17 
Mar. 29, 1857 
rin 
5 no 
12.25 
5.25 
1 
* Iris dark brown. 
