SPINE-TAILED SWIFT. 
powerful, the claws strongly recurved and sharp enough to make tiny punctures 
when the bird clasps the hand. The bird seemed to prefer resting under some 
projection, like a piece of bark, a knot, or against an overhanging branch. 
It ascended a clean, dry pole with the greatest ease. Placed in a cardboard 
box, however, it was not comfortable, and scuttled about continuously. But 
in a kerosene case it clung to the smooth side for hours and appeared to rest 
all night without changing position. 
“ In a clinging position the tail is spread fanwise for support. The natural 
adaptation of the extraordinary spine point for this purpose is obvious. When 
handled the Swift called frequently ; a querulous note something like that of 
the Little Tern. In calm weather I have heard this call from birds on the 
wing.” 
Pisobia melanotas. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 
See p. 111. 
and 
Oymochorea castro. MADEIRAN FORK-TAIL PETREL. 
See p. 92. 
General colour above sooty black, darker on the head; upper tail coverts 
white, with white shafts, and deep black tips with black shafts to this part; 
tail feathers black with black shafts, base of all the feathers except the four 
central ones with white on both sides of the shaft, with white shafts, the 
outermost having the most white : the black feathers of the back encroaching 
on to the white in a V shape (thus resembling the same part of macrodactyla. 
and some specimens of leucorhoa, but the later form has sometimes dark shafts, 
castro and macrodactyla apparently never) : primaries and wing coverts black, 
some of the secondaries brownish : under surface sooty brown, under wing 
lining perhaps darker. Eyes brown, bill and feet black. Wing 151; tail 68 ; 
bill 13 ; tarsus 22 ; middle toe and claw 23. Collected in Australia. 
29 
