SOME BIRDS OF THE AIR AND OPEN SPACES 
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3. Grey Swiftlet Collocalia francica Gmelin 
Coll-o-cal'-i-a — Gk, colla , glue; Gk, calia, nest: francica — Isle of France, 
now called Mauritius. 
Distribution. — Northern Queensland and the islands off the coast; also 
occurs from the Mauritius to Oceania. 
Notes. — Usually in small flocks, flying over the open spaces of the 
coastal ranges, the tops of the scrub, or about the precipitous sides of 
rocky ridges. Occurs commonly at Dunk Island, the only recorded breed- 
ing-place of the species, where it nests in caves. Food: small insects, 
caught on the wing. 
Nest. — A small, shallow, saucer-shaped structure, composed of a 
glutinous substance made from the bird’s saliva, with which is mixed 
fibre, grass-stems, and sheaths of grass-stalks ; lined with feathers. Nests 
are usually attached together, and fastened to the walls of the cave with 
the same glutinous substance. 
Eggs — Usually one, pure white Breeding-season: September to 
December. 
4. Fork-tailed Swift Micropus pacificus Latham 
Micr-o-pus — Gk, micros , small; Gk, pus ( pous) t podos, foot: pac-if -ic-us 
— pacificus, of the Pacific Ocean. 
Distribution. — Australia, accidental to Tasmania and New Zealand; 
also occurs in north-eastern Asia, India, Malaysia, and New Guinea. 
Notes . — Also called White-rumped Swift. Usually in flocks which 
visit Australia during the spring and summer months. Generally seen 
‘‘hawking’' for insects high in the air, or just above the tree-tops ; at times, 
close to the ground. It is usual for large flocks to appear during unsettled 
weather conditions. Food : insects, caught on the wing. 
Nest . — A small, perfectly round plate of straw, thickest at the rim 
and very slightly dished in the centre; a few feathers are worked into 
the outer part of it, which is hardened with glutinous matter produced 
by the bird. Placed in a vertical cranny or in a horizontal fissure in a 
low rocky cliff, at about a full arm’s length from the entrance. Breeds 
in small colonies on a small island off the north-eastern coast of China. 
Eggs. — One to three, pure white and elongated in shape. Breeding- 
season : June (Capt. Henry Lane Cochrane, R.N., M.B.O.U.). 
5. Spine-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus Latham 
Hi-run-da-pus — L., hirundo , swallow; Gk, apus ( apous ), without feet: 
caud-ac-u -tus — L., cauda, tail ; L., acutus, sharp. 
Distribution. — Australia generally (except the interior), Tasmania, 
and accidental to New Zealand; also occurs in Siberia, China, and Japan. 
Notes .—Also called Needle-tailed Swift. In flocks, visiting Australia 
during the spring and summer months. It is similar in habits to the Fork- 
tailed" Swift. Food: insects, caught on the wing. 
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