CYPSELUS AUSTRALIS, Gouid. 
Australian Swift. 
Cypselus Australis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 141. 
As I had never seen or heard of a true Swift in Australia, I was no less surprised than gratified when I 
discovered this species to be tolerably numerous on the Upper Hunter, during my first visit to that district 
in 1838. Those I then observed were flying high in the air and performing immense sweeps and circles, 
while engaged in the capture of insects. I succeeded in killing six or eight individuals, among which were 
adult examples of both sexes, but I was unable to obtain any particulars as to their habits and economy. It 
would be highly interesting to know whether this bird, like the other members of the family, returns annually 
to spend the months of summer in Australia. I think it likely that this may be the case, and that it may 
have been frequently confounded with the Acanthylis caudacuta, as I have more than once seen the two 
species united in flocks, hawking together in the cloudless skies, like the Martins and Swallows of our own 
island. By the discovery of this bird another beautiful instance of representation is brought under our 
notice ; evincing most clearly that the Australian Swift, Swallow and Martin are representatives of the 
Swift, Swallow and Martin of Europe, each performing in their respective hemispheres similar offices in the 
great scheme of nature. 
Throat and rump white; upper and under surface of the body brown; the back tinged with a bronzy 
metallic lustre; each feather of the under surface margined with white ; wings and tail dark brown ; irides, 
bill and feet black. 
The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size. 
