82 SIXTEENTH REPORT. 



was noted rarely, onh' five times in all. The first seen were in a group of 

 tall, standing dead trees near the edge of a burned swamp. They wore 

 nesting here in the very top of one of the trees, fifty feet or more high. 

 When observed the adults were engaged in carrying food to the nest hole. 

 July 24 another pair was found in a similar group of trees in the burned 

 lands, and a week later three of the gray-headed young were seen in the 

 same trees. After August 16 no more were recorded. 



28. Colaptes auratus luteus. Northern Flicker. — The flicker frequented 

 the burned lands, where it was commonly observed all summer, altho the 

 numbers rapidly decreased after August 16. The species was typical of 

 the burned lands wherever a few trees remained standing. The narrow belt 

 of fire-killed trees bordering on the hardwood forest was a favorite resort, 

 but the birds seldom entered the forest itself. The species was very shy 

 during July, but, as the 3'oung became more abundant, it became one of 

 the tamest. During the blueberrj' season, the birds were flushed in numljers 

 from the ground among the bushes, and later haunted the wild cherry trees 

 in the same fashion. Both fruits were favorites, and the birds stayed in 

 their vicinity until after the fruits were gone. Nests were frequently 

 found, the first on July 1. This nest contained young nearly large enough 

 to fly. The last nest was found on July 20, and the young in this nest were 

 very recently hatched. 



29. Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. — This species was 

 present during the two months spent in the field, but was noticeably more 

 common in July. Just at dusk the birds began to call, and frequently came 

 into the clearing about camp after it was too dark to see. After August 16, . 

 they were seldom heard calling, that is one would hear a call twice or thrice 

 in an evening. As a species they preferred the burn, and always were heard 

 calling from there. On several occasions in the very early morning between 

 three and four o'clock, whip-poor-wills were found flying thru the cold mists 

 that hung over the lakes and rivers at that hour. On several occasions at 

 this time the birds were quite numerous, and came so close to the canoe as 

 to be readily recognized. To a considerable extent, the species fed on the 

 all too plentiful mosquitoes, in that habit much resembling the nighthawks. 



30. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. Nighthawk. — This species was 

 common during our stay in the field. Every evening the birds were seen 

 flying alcove the burned lands and over the water, and in the early evenings 

 of the first two weeks, were frequently heard "l^ooming." As the dusk 

 deepened they came lower and lower, until often quite close to the earth. 

 In August many more birds appeared than were evident in the preceding 

 month, and in Waucedah on the evening of August 24, a large flock was 

 seen flying aljout over the town. In the early morning the lairds were usually 

 quite abundant also, and during the day an occasional bird would be seen 

 verj'- high in the air. A nest found on July 1 contained two young birds in 

 the down. The nest Avas a mere hollow in the hot soil of the ])are Ijurned 

 lands, and Avas without protection from the hot sun or from passing hawks. 

 The parent was on the nest, and sat very close. When finally flushed, it 

 flopj'X'd ofi" a little wa}^ in the characteristic manner and then very reluctantly 

 took wing. 



31. Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. — This species was noted almost 

 daily during the summer. Just at evening, flocks of from four or five to 

 twenty would appear flying over the burned lands, usually a little before 

 the nightiiawks began to fe<Hl, and would disa]')]:)ear liefore dark. During 

 the day a few individuals would be seen well up in the air; this was espe- 



