KLECHO SWALLOW. 
105 
tion of the crane, it is certainly the most lofty as well as the most vigorous flyer of the Aus- 
tralian birds. I have frequently observed in the middle of the hottest days, while lying 
prostrate on the ground with my eyes directed upwards, the cloudless blue sky peopled at an 
immense elevation by hundreds of these birds, performing extensive curves and sweeping 
flights, doubtless attracted thither by the insects that soar aloft during serene weather. 
Hence, as I have before stated, few birds are more difficult to obtain, particularly on the con- 
tinent of Australia, where long droughts are so prevalent ; on the contrary, the flocks that 
visit the more humid climate of Yan Diemen’s Land, where they necessarily seek their 
food nearer the earth, are often greatly diminished by the gun during their stay. 
“I regret that I could ascertain no particulars whatever respecting the nidification of 
this fine bird, but we may naturally conclude that both rocks and holes in the larger 
trees are selected as sites for this purpose, as well as for a roosting-place during the night. 
Before retiring to roost, which it does immediately after the sun has gone down, the Spine- 
tailed Swallows may frequently be seen either singly or in pairs, sweeping up the gullies or 
flying with immense rapidity just above the top of the trees, their never-tiring wings enabling 
them to perform their evolutions in the capture of insects, and of sustaining themselves in the 
air during the entire day without cessation.” 
The Australian Needle-tailed Swallow is a most beautiful bird in its coloring, as well as 
handsome in size and elegance of shape. The general color of this bird is olive brown, exceed- 
ingly dark in the chest and abdomen, and washed with a dark green tinge upon the back of 
the head, the wings, and the tail. Before the eyes there is a velvet-black patch, and a large 
portion of the under parts of the body is white, including the chin, throat, under tail-coverts, 
and the inner web of the secondaries. There is also a white band extending across the 
forehead. 
A closely allied species is the Aculeated Swallow ( Ohcetura pelasgia). 
This bird is a native of many parts of America, being found in Louisiana, Carolina, and 
even in Pennsylvania. It is chiefly remarkable for the ingenuity which it exhibits in the 
construction of its singular nest. Choosing some convenient locality, such as a rocky crevice, 
or the unused chimney of a house, the bird commences its labors by putting together a slight 
platform of dry twigs, which it cements together with certain vegetable gums. So large is 
this platform, that it sometimes causes considerable inconvenience to the inhabitants of the 
house where the Swallow has taken up its residence, as it completely stops up the orifice of 
the chimney. Upon this platform is formed a kind of cradle nest, also composed of small 
twigs, which are woven into a kind of rude basket, and also cemented together. 
_ T h e e gg' s of this species are very large in proportion to the dimensions of the parent bird ; 
their color is grayish-white, streaked and spotted with black and brown towards the large end. 
The general color of the plumage is brown, and the throat is whitish -gray. 
The birds which belong to the genus Macropteryx, or Long- winged Swifts, possess wings 
of very great comparative length, owing to the development of the two first primary feathers 
of the wings, which are nearly equal to each other in length, the second being slightly the 
longer of the two. They may, however, be easily distinguished from the members of the genus 
Acanthylis, by the formation of the tail, which, instead of being composed of feathers of 
nearly equal length, and tipped with sharp points, is forked after the manner usually observed 
in the smaller tribes. The feet are furnished with four toes, the hinder toe being directed 
backward. 
The Klecpio Swallow, or Large- winged Swift, as it is more rightly termed, as It 
belongs to the ranks of the Cypseline birds, is considered of great value by ornithologists as 
supplying a link in the chain that connects the Swifts with the Swallows. Like the Swifts in 
general, its feet are well adapted for climbing, and supplied with firm curved claws ; and like 
the Swallows, its hinder toe is directed backwards, and cannot be brought round in a line with 
the remaining toes. It is a very handsome bird, in its coloring nearly equalling the Needle- 
tailed Swift^ which has just been described. The color of the upper parts of the body is deep 
