HIRUNDINIDiE.— ACAKTHYLIS PELASGIA. 109 



eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, and are also found in nearly equal numbers 

 along the shores of the Pacific. Sir John Richardson did not meet with them in 

 the Arctic regions. Dr. "Woodhouse speaks of having found the Chimney Swallow 

 very common throughout the Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, and California. 



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

 kind to be found among the handiworks of even this interesting family, nearly all 

 of whom are far from being undistinguished for their architectural accomplish- 

 ments. 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 Sw^ift 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. Svreeping on the coveted 

 twig, somewhat as a Hawk rushes on its prey, it parts it at the desired place, and 

 bears it off to its nest. This fact is familiar to all Avho have attentively observed 

 their habits. Each of these twigs is strongly fastened to its fellows by an adhesive 

 saliva secreted by the bird, and the whole structure is as 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, I have known por- 

 tions 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 

 chimneys, with their strong claws and muscular feet, and often save themselves from 

 tilling, in such accidents, by these 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 are usually four in number. This I have never known them to exceed, 

 although Audubon speaks of their having six. They are pure white, and unspotted. 

 They vary but little in size, which is small for that of the bird, or in shape, which 

 is slightly elliptical. The eggs are from f to if of an inch in length, and from A 

 to j% in breadth. One end is somewhat smaller, as well as more pointed, than the 

 other, but the difference is not so marked as in the eggs of most of the family 

 Hirundinidce, while they are much less elliptical than the eggs of the Caprimulgida;. 



Under favorable circumstances, the Chimney Swift raises two broods in a season. 



In its semi-nocturnal habits, the Chimney Swallow resembles the Night-Hawk 

 more than the Swallow. They are to be seen abroad more frequently in the morn- 

 ing or evening twilight than in the middle of the day. When they have young, 

 they are busy feeding them during the greater portion^of the night. They are not, 

 however, strictly nocturnal, but may be frequently met with abroad at midday, even 

 when the sky is unclouded. 



