268 CH^TURA PELACICA, CHIMNEY SWIFT. 



and otbers, 1 have failed to lav my hand on a West Indian, Mexican, or 

 Central American reference. Dr. Sclater, usually explicit, is silent in 

 the matter, in his critical notice of the Ci/psclkkv. 



The Chimney Swift reaches the Middle States early in April, and 

 leaves toward October. It is abundant in our towns and cities, and 

 familiar to all. The following- account of its nidification, the most inter- 

 esting point in its economy, leaves nothing to be desired. Dr. Brewer 

 writes : 



" The nest of the Chimney Swallow is one of the most remarkable 

 structures of the kind to be fouud among the handiwork of even this 

 interestiug family, nearly all of whom are far from being undistinguished 

 for their architectural accomplishments. It is composed of small twigs 

 of nearly uniform size, which are interwoven into a neat semicircular 

 basket. In selecting the twigs with which to construct the nest, the 

 Swift seems to prefer to break from the tree such as are best adapted 

 to its wants, rather than to gather those already scattered upon the 

 ground. This is done with great skill and adroitness, while on the wing. 

 Sweeping on the coveted twig, somewhat as a Hawk rushes on its prey, 

 it parts it at the desired placed and bears it ofl" to its nest. TLiis fact is 

 familiar to all who have attentively observed its "habits. Each of these 

 twigs is firmly fastened to its fellows by an adhesive saliva, secreted by 

 the bird, and the whole structure is strongly cemented to the side of 

 the chimney in which it is built, by means of the same secretion. When 

 dry, this saliva hardens into a glue-like substance, apparently firmer 

 even than the twigs themselves. In separating a nest from the side of 

 a chimney, 1 have known portions of the brick to which it was fastened 

 to give way sooner than the cement with which it had been secured. 

 When moistened, however, by long or heavy rains, the weight of their 

 contents will sometimes cause them to part, and precipitate the whole 

 to the bottom. The young birds cling very tenaciously to the sides of 

 the chimney, with their strong claws and muscular feet, and often save 

 themselves from falling in such accidents, by this means, even at a very 

 early age, and before they have attained their sight. As the nest, even 

 when undisturbed, soon becomes too small for them, the young leave it 

 long before they are able to fly, and climb to the top of the chimney, 

 where they are fed by their parents." 



The eggs, four to six in number, are pure w hite, unmarked, sub-ellip- 

 tical in shape, and measure 0.75 by 0.50, or slightly more. 



Kemaiuing North American species of this family are only as follows : 



Ch^tura vauxii (Toivna.), De Kay. 



Cypselns vauxii, Towns., Journ. Phila. Acad, viii, 1839, 148 (Colorado River). 



dhcBtura vauxii, DkKay, N. Y. Zool. ii, 1844, 36.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 145, pi. 18.— Kexn., 



P. R. R. Rep. X, pt. iv, 18.59, pi. 18, f. 2.— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 



1860, 165.— SCL. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1860, 37 (no specific name).— SCL., Cat. 1862, 



282: P. Z. S. 1863, 100 (Guatemala); 1865, 611 (critical).— Lawr., Ann. Lye. 



ix. 1868, 204 (Yucatan).— Coop. B. Cal. i, 1870, 351.— Coues, Key, 1872, 183. 

 Acanthylis vauxii, Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 64; Comi^tes Rend. 1854, 600.— Cass., HI. 1855, 



2.50.— Newb., p. R. R. Rep. vi, 1857, 78. 

 ChcBtum (j)alagica var. ?) vauxi, B. B. «fe R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 435. 



Hab. — Pacific Coast, United States, south to Guatemala. 



Nephcecetes NIGER vav. BORE.vLis (Eemi.), Coues. 



a. niger. 



Eirundo nigra, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 1025.— Lath., Ind. Oru. ii, 1790, 577 (Antilles; 



based on H. apos clominiccnsis, Buiss., ii, 514, pl. 46, f. 3). 

 Cypselus nigev, GossE, B. Jam. 1847, 63 ; 111. pl. 10.— Lawk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. vi, 1858, 



268 (Cuba). 

 Cypseloidcs nigcr, ScL., P. Z. S. 1865, 615. 



