144 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
CHAETURA, Stephens. 
Chaetura, Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, n, 1825, 76, (type, C.pelasgia.) 
Acanlhylis, Bo:e, Isis, 1826, 971, (A. spinicauda.) 
Cii —Tail very short, scarcely more than two-fifths the wings ; slightly rounded ; the shafts stiffened and extending some 
distance beyond the feathers in a rgd spire. First primary longest. Legs covered by a naked skin, without scutellae or 
feathers. Tarsus longer than middle toe. Lateral toes equal, nearly as long as the middle. Hind toe scarcely versatile, or 
quite posterior ; with the claw, less than tl e middle ante or without it. Toes slender ; claws moderate. Feathers of the base 
of the bill not extending beyond the beginning of the nostrils. 
The spinous processes to the nearly even tail readily distinguish this genus from any other of 
the North American Cypselidae. The two North American species differ chiefly in size. 
I have restored the generic name of Chaetura to this species as being prior to Acanthylis. 
There is, indeed, a genus Chaelurus of earlier date in botany, but for all the practical purposes 
of synonymy the two names are perfectly distinct; more so, in fact, than Picus and Pica, 
which belong to the same class instead of to different kingdoms. 
CHAETURA PELASGIA, Stephens. 
Chimney Swallow. 
Hirundo pelasgia, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 345.— Wils. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 48 ; pi. xxxix, fig. 1. 
Cypsehis pelasgia, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 329 : V, 419 ; p . 158. 
Cliaelura ptlasgia, Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII, ii, 1825, 76.— Ib. Birds America I, 1840, 164 ; pi. 44. 
Acanthylis pelasgia, “Temm.” — Bon. Consp. 1850, 64.— Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 241. 
Hemiprocne pelasgia, Streubel, Isis, 1848, 363. 
Aculeated swallow, Penn. Arc. Zool. II, 1785, 432. 
Sp. Ch.—T ail slightly rounded, of a sooty brown all over, except on the throat, which becomes considerably lighter from the 
breast to the bill. Above with a greenish tinge ; the rump a little paler. Length, 5.25 inches ; wing, 5.10 ; tail, 2.15. 
Hab .—Eastern United States to slopes of Rocky mountains? 
The western range of the chimney bird is not well ascert lined, the only specimens brought in 
by the expeditions being one from Bijoux Hill, Nebraska, and several from Independence. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained 
o 
z; 
W) 
5 
Collected by— 
£ 
tc 
c 
a. 
Stretch ot 
1 
Tail. 
3 
05 
Eh 
Middle toe. 
Claw alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gipe. 
Specimen 
measured 
1010 
o 
May 22, 1843 
5.25 
12.51 
5.17 
6485 
4.75 
5.12 
2.20 
0.55 
0.50 
0.20 
0.21 
0.67 
4781 
May 15, 1856 
Lt. G. K. Warrec 
4 87 
12.51 
3.17 
7526 
1857. 
8317 
Mar. 29, 1857 
34 
5.00 
12.25 
5.25 
* Iris dark brown. 
