Part 66

1. Cypselus melanoleucus. Baird, Proc. Acad., Phila., VII. p. 118. (1854.)

Not figured.

Wings very long, exceeding the tail; second primary longest; first primary tapering towards the end; secondaries short, obliquely incised at their ends; tail moderate, emarginate; shafts of the tail-feathers very stiff at their bases; tarsi and toes feathered, short, and very strong; entire plumage above dark fuliginous, paler on the head, nearly black on the back and rump; throat, breast, wide longitudinal stripe down the middle of the abdomen, and large spot on the flank, pure white; sides and under-coverts of the tail dark fuliginous, which is also the color of the plumage of the tibiæ, tarsi, and toes; wings and tail dark fuliginous; secondaries tipped with white; wings at the shoulders edged with white; under-wing-coverts ashy fuliginous; claws light-colored.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 5½ inches; wing, 5½; tail, 2½ inches. Female very nearly the same.

Hab. New Mexico (Dr. Kennerly, Dr. Heermann).

Only noticed, as yet, by the two naturalists just mentioned. This is a handsome bird, and an interesting addition to the ornithology of the United States, being the first species of the genus Cypselus discovered within our limits. According to the gentlemen above mentioned, this bird habitually frequents the crevices in rocks, in which it builds its nest and rears its young. Its flight is represented to be exceedingly rapid and long-continued.

This bird is evidently of the same group of species as Cypselus montivagus, D’Orbigny, Voyage dans L’Amerique Meridionale, Ois., p. 357, pl. 42, fig. 1 (Paris, 1844), which inhabits the mountains of Bolivia. The white stripe down the middle of the abdomen distinguishes the present bird.

II. GENUS ACANTHYLIS. Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 971.

CHÆTURA. Stephens. HIRUNDAPUS. Hodgson.

General characters similar to the last genus, but with the shafts of the tail-feathers prolonged beyond the webs, and forming strong thorn-like points; tarsi and toes naked; bill small, curved, wide at base; wings long; tail usually short; legs short, rather slender; claws curved, strong; general form plump and robust. Of this genus there are about fifteen species, two only of which are known to inhabit the United States, though several are natives of South America. Like the birds of the preceding genus, they possess great rapidity of flight, and live in similar situations.

1. Acanthylis pelasgia. (Linn.) The Chimney Bird. The American Swift. Hirundo pelasgia. Linn., Syst. Nat. I. p. 345. (1766.) Hirundo cerdo. Bartram, Trav., p. 292. (1791.) Barton, Frag., p. 18. “Cypselus acutus. Temm., Mus. Lugd.” Bonap., Consp. Av., p. 64.

Vieill., Ois. d’Am., Sept. 1, pl. 33; Wilson, Am. Orn., V. pl. 39, fig. 1; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 58, Oct. ed., I. pl. 44; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 27, fig. 58.

Wings very long, extending beyond the tail, flattened, somewhat falcate; shafts of primaries rigid; tail short; exserted spines sharp, elastic; tarsi and toes naked; entire plumage above and below fuliginous brown, darkest on the upper parts, and with a slight greenish lustre on the head and back (in mature specimens), much paler on the throat and neck before; quills dark fuliginous; tail lighter; spot in front of the eye black, a very narrow superciliary line ashy-white; shafts and spines of the tail-feathers black; bill and feet dark.

Dimensions. Total length, male, from tip of bill to end of tail, 4¾ to 5 inches; wing, 5¼; tail, 1¾ inches. Female very nearly the same.

Hab. Throughout North America. Canada (Dr. Hall); Florida (Mr. Williams); Indiana (Dr. Haymond); Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, California (Dr. Woodhouse).

The Chimney bird is abundant in all the States on the Atlantic, and, according to Dr. Woodhouse, equally so in Texas. It possesses powers of sustaining protracted and rapid flight, perhaps not equalled by any other bird of North America, though characteristic in some measure of all the birds of this family. In Europe, birds of genera nearly allied to the present have received the name of “Swifts” from this fact.

2. Acanthylis Vauxii. (Townsend.) Vaux’s Swift. Cypselus Vauxii. Towns., Jour. Acad., Philada., VIII. p. 148. (1839.)

Not figured.

Smaller than the preceding, but very similar to it in form and general appearance; wings very long, exceeding the tail, which is short; exserted spines of the tail-feathers sharp, slender, and not so rigid as in the preceding species; tarsi and toes rather slender, naked; plumage above fuliginous brown, lighter on the rump and upper tail-coverts, darker, and tinged with greenish on the head and back; quills dark fuliginous, with a greenish lustre; tail lighter fuliginous; under-parts pale fuliginous, nearly white on the throat, darkest on the abdomen; shafts and spines of the tail-feathers black; bill and feet dark.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, sex unknown, 4¼ inches; wing, 4½; tail, 1½ inches.

Hab. Columbia River, Oregon (Dr. Townsend).

This species, though apparently totally distinct from the common Chimney bird of the United States, has never been noticed since its discovery by Dr. Townsend. It is probably a bird exclusively inhabiting the countries west of the Rocky Mountains. The original specimen brought by Dr. Townsend remains unique in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy.

The name of this species was given in honor of Mr. William S. Vaux, of this city, and is a just compliment to one of the most active and valuable members of the Academy.

B. OBSCURE AND DOUBTFUL SPECIES OF THIS FAMILY.

1. Hirundo unalaschkensis. Gm., Syst. Nat. I. p. 1025. (1788.) Hirundo aoonalaschkensis. Lath., Ind. Orn., II. p. 577. (1790.)

Originally described by Latham from a specimen in the Leverian Museum, as follows:—

“Length four inches and a half; bill very short, dusky; the plumage above dull black, without gloss; beneath and sides of the head dusky ash color, the last darkest; rump dirty white; tail forked, each feather round at the end; legs dusky. Inhabits Aoonalashka.” Gm., Syn. II. p. 571.

This species is unknown to ornithologists of the present day, and from the above description and the evident similarity of the bird to other small species of this family, would not be recognized without difficulty, unless obtained in the locality as given. It appears to belong to the genus Collocalia, Gray, a very remarkable group of small Swallows, that inhabit caves, and are found in several islands in the Pacific Ocean. A species of this genus is the Esculent Swallow of authors (Collocalia esculenta), the nests of which are so highly esteemed as an article of food by the Chinese, and are the principal constituent in the somewhat celebrated “Bird’s-nest soup,” a prominent feature in Chinese entertainments. It is probable, too, that the nests of other species of these birds are used for the same purpose.