4o6 THE PACIFIC NIGHTHAWK. 



No. 157. 



PACIFIC NIGHTHAWK 



A. O. U. No. 420 part. Chordeiles virginianus hesperis J. Ciriniiell. 



Synonym. — I'.ri.L-i'.AT. 



Description. — .liliilt male: Muttleil, black, gray and ochraceons, and with 

 white in ])atches ; above black predominates, especially on forehead and back, 

 mottling falling into indistinct bars on upper tail-coverts and tail ; anterior edge 

 of wing white : the wing-quills dusky ; a large, white, transverse patch about 

 midway on the first five primaries, save on the outer web of the first ; a large 

 \'-shaped throat-patch white ; remaining underparts distinctly and finely barred, 

 dusky and whitish with some faint ochraceous. — the latter found especially on 

 the parts adjacent to the white throat-patch : the crissuni sometimes pure white, 

 usually barred, at greater intervals than on breast : a white band crossing tail 

 near tip, except on central feathers. Bill without evident bristles, the horny part 

 very small, but length of gape about an inch. Tarsus very short ; the middle 

 claw enlarged, and with a curious, horny, comb-like j)rocess on the inner edge. 

 Adult female: Similar, but without white band on tail, and with white spots 

 on primaries often much reduced ; throat-patch tinged with ochraceous, and suffu- 

 sion of underparts by this color more pronounced. Iiiiuiatnre: More finely and 

 heavily mottled than adults, and with upperparts more heavily marked, or even 

 suffused with ochraceous-buft". Length 9.00-10.00 (228.6-254): wing 4.85 

 (123.2) ; tail 4.32 (109.7) '■ ''ill from nostril .21 15.3). 



Recognition Marks. — To appearance "'Little Hawk" size — really smaller; 

 central white s])ot in long wing distinctive. 



Nesting. — Eggs: 2, deposited on the bare ground, often among rocks, some- 

 times upon a flat rock, or on the gravel roof of a tall building: grayish white, or 

 dull olive-ljuff marbled, mottled, or clouded and speckled with various shades of 

 olive, and brownish- or [lurplish-gray. .\v. size, I.i8x .86 (30x21.8). Season: 

 June : one broofl. 



General Range. — Pacific coast slope mirth to P>ritish Columbia. 



Range in Washington. — ^^'est-side, summer resident in open situations. 



Authorities. — Chordeiles popetiie. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 

 p. 153. T. C&S. B. E. 



Specimens. — Prov. 



THE Nighthawk arri\es so tardilv — ne\er before the middle of May 

 and from that date to the middle of June — tliat he reminds us of the naughty 

 child who has disregarded the ijarental summons and comes upon the scene 

 sleepy and cross at 9.30 a. ni.. when all good little children are at school. We 

 are sure, too. that it must be something like the necessity of eating cold victuals 

 that makes the bird grumble bayard - bayard as it flits about discontentedly on 

 the first morning. Moreover, there is always something incongruous about 

 the appearance of this prairie species in the land of tall timber. He is like the 



