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CIJyETURA gigantea . 
fection of an all-wise Creator’s handiwork, to excite wonder and admiration in the mind of the naturalist 
and true lover of nature. That any bird can sustain an aerial course of such rapidity for 12 or 14 hours at a 
time, without any cessation from its exertions, must of necessity excite the astonishment of the most careless 
thinker, while to the inquiring mind it amply demonstrates what a marvel of strength and perfection ol 
structure are exhibited in this wonderful bird. A casual glance at one of these Swifts will show that it is 
entirely formed for speed. The pointed aspect of its face and bill, with the thick lores and stiff super- 
ciliary feathers to protect the eye from the rush of air, its broad body, gradually tapering from the rump to 
the acute tip of the tail, give it the form of a feathered projectile constructed to acquire immense velocity, which, 
in truth, its rigid sickle-shaped wings, with their specially lengthened metacarpal bones imparting so much 
power to the downward stroke, cannot fail to give it. It is this peculiar outward form which imparts 
to it a so much higher power of speed than exists in other Swifts, such as the next species, for the structure 
of the sternum is not so very much superior to that of the Alpine Swift. Dr. Sclatcr writes, in explanation 
of the drawing of the sternum of this Spine-tail which is contained in the P. Z. S. 1865, that it is broader in 
proportion and less elongated than in Cypselus , and that the anterior point or apex of the keel is not earned 
so far forward. Apparently these slight differences would not give the Spine-tail the superiority over the ordinary 
Swift which it possesses were it not for its admirable external shape and greater length of metacarpus. 
This Spine-tail haunts the vicinity of rocky precipices and steep hill-sides, dividing its time between 
careering round them and up and down adjacent valleys and sweeping over the surrounding country, especially 
where there exist open tracts, in search of food. When hawking in a large flock its flight is not unlike that 
of the Alpine Swift ; but it is varied by vast circles and detours made with astonishing swiftness, as if merely 
for exercise, returning in a moment to its place in the flock. It is not in this manner, however, that its 
great powers of flight are put forth ; it is in returning at nights from its day’s labours to its far-distant 
roosting-place that these are brought out, and then its flight is as swift as the momentary rush on its quarry 
of the Peregrine Falcon. I have experienced this on more than one occasion in the Ceylon hills, w here a whiz 
just over my head, like that of a bullet, has brought my attention to the omvard course of one of these 
birds, which the next moment had disappeared far away in the gloom of the tropical evening. Mr. Carter 
writes, concerning a flock that he fired at, “ I should not like to say how r many I missed ; but some idea of 
their rate of speed may be formed when I say that in seeing one coming towards me and turning sharp round, 
by the time I sighted it it was too far ... . The two I got I killed passing over me, making great allowance 
and firing far m front. One, although quite dead when I came up to it, had managed to clutch a stone, 
which remained tight in its claws.” Mr. Davison observed that they hawked very high in the air, betraying 
their almost invisible presence by a sharp clear whistle. At nights they were found, in company with other 
Swifts, about ponds or tanks. Concerning the roosting of this Swift, which is one of the most interesting 
points in its economv, very little seems to be known. Its spinous tail is evidently a provision of nature to 
afford it support against the rock to which it clings at night. It most probably, as suggested by J erdon, 
has some fixed roosting-places, to which large flocks resort from immense distances, arriving no doubt at a 
late hour, and thus preventing the possibility of their haunt being discovered from observations of the birds 
on their way thither. He observed that they flew towards the coast, and on one occasion witnessed an 
enormous flock passing him on their way towards the sea some time after sunset, although there was no 
situation on the west coast where they could have roosted ; consequently the idea suggests itself that they 
make for the sea-shore and then travel along it to their nightly rendezvous. 
Layard was informed by the natives that this species nested in rhododendron-trees, which, it is scarcely 
necessary to remark, is an erroneous idea. It breeds, as its near ally the White-necked Spine-tail, in lofty 
cliffs. Mr. Bligh informs me that they yearly resort to some inaccessible precipices in the Haputale ranges 
for the purpose of breeding, but he has been unable to find their nests or procure their eggs. 
