368 



ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



the whole day in secluded retirement, but often, especially in June, may 

 be seen by hundreds flying over some marshy spot on the prairies, and 

 seem to find no difficulty in reaping a rich repast, even in the brightest 

 hours of noonday. They continue on the wing after nightfall, at least till 

 the outlines of their forms can no longer be discerned in the gathering 

 Their habits during the nesting season appear everywhere the same. 



gloom. 



OHOEDEILBS ACUTIPENNIS (Bodd.), var. TEXENSIS, Lawr. 



Texas Nighthawk. 



Chordeiles texensis, LAWR., An. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vi, Dec., 1856, 1(17. BD., Birds 

 N. A., 1858, 154, pi. 44. Id., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila,, 1859. 3 (Gape 

 Saint Lucas). Id., U. S. & Mex. Bouud. Surv. Terr., ii, pt. ii, 1859, Birds, 

 7, pi. vi. COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. PLiila., 1800, 58 (Fort Whipple, 

 Ariz.). Id, ib., 1808, 82 (Arizona). COOPER, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 345. 

 COUES, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 181. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 203. 



Chordeiles sapiti var. texensis, BD., BREW., & RIDG., N. A. Birds, ii, 1874, 400, pi. 40, 1. 5. 



Cltordeiles avutipennis var. texensis, HENSHAW, Rep. Oru. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 129. 



Specimens obtained on the Gila River September 14, where it was 

 abundant. Made its appearance perhaps half an hour before dusk, keeping- 

 over the river, where, in pursuit of insects, it flew swiftly in irregular circles. 

 The common nighthawk was also present and associating freely with it, 

 though the present species was the most abundant. 



This was the only occasion the species has been noted by our parties, 

 though it doubtless occurs in summer in many of the warm river valleys in 

 Southern Arizona, leaving our Territory soon after the close of the breeding 

 season. 



