368 



ZOOLOGY— r.IKDS. 



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

 be seen b}^ hundreds fl}nng 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 

 gloom. Their habits during the nesting season appear everywhere the same. 



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

 Texas TVighthawk. 



Chordeiks texensis, Lawr., An. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vi, Dec, 185G, 107. — Bd., Birds 

 N. A., 1858, 151, pi. U.—I(l, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, 3 (Cape 

 Saint Lucas). — Id., U. S. & Mex. Boiuid. Suiv. Terr., li, pt. ii, 1859, Bird.s, 

 7, pi. vi.— COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., ISfiG, 58 (Fort Wliipplc, 

 Ariz.).— W., ib., 18G8, 82 (Arizona).- Cooper, Birds Cal., i, 1870, ;54.").— 

 CoUES, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 181,— CoUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 2G;{. 



Chordeiks sapiii var. tcxensin, lio.. Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, ii, 1874, 40G, pi. 4G, r. 5. 



Chordeiks acutipentm var. texensis, Oensuaw, Kep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 129. 



Specimens obtained on tlie 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 occm-s in summer in many of the warm river valleys in 

 Southern Arizona, leaving om- Territory soon after the close of the breeding 

 season. 



