COLLOCALIA TERRA REGIN &.
Queensland Edible Swift.

Cypselus terre regine, Ramsay, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 601.

 

Austra has long been known to possess true Swifts, Swallows, and M

oy] artins; but hitherto the genus
Collocaha, of which numerous species inhabit the surrounding isl

ands, has been conspicuous by its absence.
Specimens of an Edible Swift were, indeed, procured on Dunk Island by the late Mr. John Macgillivray

during the voyage of the ‘ Rattlesnake ;’ but it was not till two years ago that they became known as
inhabitants of the continent of Australia. As might have been expected, the Dunk-Island birds are
identical with the Australian; and, after careful comparison, I have decided on keeping this new Swiftlet
distinct from Collocalia spodiopygia of Peale, to which it bears undoubted affinity. The addition of Australia
as a habitat for the genus Co//ocalia is of great interest, as its range is decidedly peculiar, extending as it
does over the different islands of Oceania, Malasia, India, and it even occurs in Mauritius.

For the acquisition of a specimen of this new Australian bird I am indebted to Mr. Waller, of Brisbane.
In a short note this gentleman states :—‘ This Swallow was collected by Mr. Broadbent on the coast-range
of Rockingham Bay. First seen at Dalrymple’s Gap, in the morning they appeared to come from the north
and returned again in the evening. Before rain, this bird assembles in large flocks, and skims over the
ground with great rapidity. They were all leaving about the latter part of June.”

The following is Mr. Ramsay’s description, copied from the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society,’
where the name of ferr@ regine was first bestowed :—

“Whole of the upper surface, except the rump, very dark sooty brown tinged with metallic lustre, being
of a darker brown on the outer webs and paler on the inner webs of the wing-feathers ; across the rump a
greyish-white band having a narrow line of dark brown down the shaft of each feather; whole of the under
surface dull greyish brown, of a silky texture and somewhat glossy ; under surface of wings and tail and the
under tail-coverts of a darker tint, the basal half of all the feathers on the body nearly black ; bill black ;
feet blackish brown ; iris dark brown.

“Total length from 4 to 4:2 inches; bill from the nostril 0-1, from forehead 0-2, from angle of the
mouth 0°45; wing from flexure 4:4; tail 2°] to 2°4; tarsi 0°30.

“The sexes are alike in plumage and size. The texture of the plumage is remarkably soft, and to the
touch resembles the fur of a Bat.

“This species frequents the north-east coast-ranges near Cardwell, Rockingham Bay, where it is
tolerably plentiful, but very difficult to procure, from its small size and swift flight. Small flocks may be
he lower spurs of the coast-ranges ; and frequently the same

seen flying to and fro over the clearer parts of t
be found sweeping over

troop returns to the same open ground day after day ; towards evening others may
the tops of the scrubs and about precipitous sides of the rocky ridges, where they doubtless breed. I found
i irds ; > amone’s se al » tail fully grown.
several young or immature-plumaged birds ; and none amongst those I obtained had the te yg
han near Rockingham Bay. It was observed
hen I left in April 1874 was still numerous
ure species I am indebted to Inspector
ardwell, as well as for much valuable

I have never seen this species in any other part of Australia t
in the neighbourhood of Cardwell during October 1873, and w
there. For the first knowledge of this and several other new and r
Robert Johnstone, of the police force on the Herbert river near C
information on the natural history of that interesting region.”

: . pees oY size of life.
The figures in the accompanying Plate are rather under the size o

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