134 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September 



of my house, and they were unknown to be there until seen feed- 

 ing- the young. They were n^ ver seen near the tree going through 

 their love performance. They evidently thought such antics might 

 betray their treasures. The second year special attention was 

 |5aid them and only very early in the mornings (about sunrise) 

 would they be seen on the tree. 



Night Hawk [Chordeiles virginianus). 



Comes north in May, beginning about the loth. The birds 

 breed abundantly on flat-roofed houses in Fredericton. The eggs 

 are laid in June and early in July. Vast flocks migrate south in 

 August and early in September ; they seem to follow the river 

 courses. 



Chimney Swift {ChcBtura pelagica). 



Comes north in May in fairly good numbers, and maybe seen 

 at evening, fluttering into some tall uijused chimney shaft to roost. 

 The birds build their nests both in chimneys and against walls in- 

 side buildings, if there is an opening for their passage. The 

 general time for egg-laying is late in June and early in July. The 

 same nest is used for successive years if it is not destroyed. 

 Having- been favoured by seeing the Swifts collecting nesting 

 material, I can say that, contrary to general belief, they break off 

 the twigs with their bills and not with the feet as is reported in 

 some writings. They do not alight but take the dead twig- in the 

 bill as they fly past, and if not successful in getting one they wheel 

 about and try again. 



Ruby-throated Hummingbird [Trochilus coliibris). 



One nest found here was built on a small limb of a beerh-tree, 

 and was composed of lichen fastened with cobweb or cocoon silk to 

 a lining- of soft plant-down. It was found July i8th, and contained 

 eggs which were by accident destroyed before the nest was found. 

 The nest is- now in the Provincial Normal School. Last summer a 

 Hummer was seen to be driven from pea vines in our garden by 

 three bumble-bees which followed it. 



