The Swallows perform the 
same task by day as the Goat- 
suckers by night, chasing and 
catching the insects as they fly 
through the air. They are smaller 
birds than the Goat-suckers, and 
therefore feed on smaller insects, 
gnats and such like creatures being 
their usual prey, In all these 
birds the beak is very short, very 
wide, the mouth is enormously 
large, and the wings are long, 
sharp, and pointed, so as to cut 
through the air with the greatest 
speed. Their tails are more or 
less forked, and their speed while 
on the wing is very great. 
The Needle-tailed Swallow 
comes from Australia, and derives 
its name from the tips of the tail 
feathers, which project in sharp 
short points, like a number of 
needles. Mr. Gould writes of 
this bird : — 
“ So exclusively is this bird a 
tenant of the air, that I never in 
any instance saw it perch, and but 
rarely sufficiently near the earth 
to admit of a successful shot ; it is 
only late in the evening and during 
lowery weather that such an object 
can be accomplished. With the 
exception of the crane, it is cer- 
tainly the most lofty as well as 
the most vigorous flier of the 
Australian 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. 5 ' 
AUSTRALIAN NEEDLE-TAILED 
SWALLOW. 
AcantJiylis caudacuta. 
