THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW, OR AMERICAN SWIFT. 
169 
General William Clark assured me that he saw this species on the 
whole of his route to the Pacific, and there can be no doubt that in those 
wilds it still breeds in trees or rocky caverns. 
Its food consists entirely of insects, the pellets composed of the indi- 
gestible parts of which it disgorges. It is furnished with glands which 
supply the unctuous matter with which it fastens its nest. 
This species does not appear to extend its migrations farther east than 
the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is unknown 
in Newfoundland and Labrador ; nor was it until the 29th of May that I 
saw some at Eastport in Maine, where a few breed. 
Chimney Swallow, Hirundo pelasgia, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 48. 
Cypselus pelasgius, Bonap. Syn., p. 63. 
Chimney Swipt or Swallow Cypselus pelasgius, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 609. 
Chimney Swallow or American Swift, Cypselus pelasgius , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. 
p. 329 ; vol. v.p. 419. 
Brownish-blaclc, lighter on the rump, with a slight greenish gloss on the 
head and back ; throat greyish-white, lower parts greyish-brown, tinged 
with green ; loral space black, and a greyish-white line over the eye. 
Female similar to the male. 
Male 4J, 12. 
FAMILY YI. HIBUNDINiE. SWALLOWS. 
Bill very short, much depressed and very broad at the base, compressed 
toward the tip ; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex, the edges over- 
lapping, with a small notch close to the slightly decurved tip. Head broad, 
depressed ; neck very short, body moderate. Feet very short, tarsus very 
short, anteriorly scutellate ; toes of moderate size ; first large, all scutellate 
in their whole length ; claws rather strong, compressed, well curved, acute. 
Plumage soft, blended, glossy. No bristles at the base of the bill. Wings 
extremely long, narrow, pointed, somewhat falciform ; secondaries very short. 
Tail generally emarginate, of twelve feathers. Mouth extremely wide ; 
oesophagus rather wide, without crop ; stomach elliptical or roundish, muscu- 
lar, with a dense rugous epithelium ; coeca very small. Four pairs of inferior 
laryngeal muscles. Nest in holes in banks, buildings, or trees, or attached to 
the surface of these objects. Eggs from four to six, white, plain, or spotted. 
Vol. I. 26 
