96 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



records have multiplied, and the following will show that this 

 species winters regularly, namely — November 27, 1891; December 

 6, 1893; March 16, 1896; February 22, 1901; March 29, 1901, 

 heard about sixteen crying; and January 25, 1902. My earliest 

 record is September 30, 1909, when Mr. Ferdinand Gregorie heard 

 one. During the memorable blizzard of February 13 and 14, 1899, 

 numbers of these birds were seen, although the thermometer reg- 

 istered as low as 6° above zero. This species is not in the least 

 inconvenienced by very cold weather for it is always exceedingly 

 obese, which enables it to withstand low temperatures. The food 

 in winter consists of large beetles. 



It is the general belief that neither this species nor the Chuck- 

 will 's-widow winters in this state, and I have heard of a wager of a 

 case of champagne offered for either of these birds taken in this 

 state during the winter months. 



The Whip-poor-will breeds in the mountainous portions of the 

 State. 



170. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). Nighthawk. 



The "Bull-bat," as this bird is locally known, is a summer 

 resident, arriving with great regularity in spring, and I mention 

 three dates upon which the first birds have been observed: April 

 13, 1884; April 16, 1895, and April 12, 1900. My latest autumn 

 record is October 25, 1895. Mr. H. R. Hale, however, saw one 

 near Mt. Pleasant on November 9, 1909. 



This species is not abundant during the breeding season, but in 

 autumn great flights sometimes occur. The greatest migration 

 that I ever witnessed was of this species. On September 6, 1905, 

 between 5.30 p. m. and sunset, these birds were migrating in 

 dense flocks, which at times obscured the sky. As far as I have 

 been able to ascertain, these flocks extended over an area of more 

 than fifteen miles from east to west. The number of birds seen 

 must have represented millions. Mr. Ferdinand Gregorie, who 

 plants on Daniel's Island, tells me that in every direction the air 

 was filled with these valuable insectivorous birds. 



The eggs of the Nighthawk are two in number and are laid in 

 some forward seasons as early as May 10, but it is not until the 

 latter part of the month that most of the birds breed. The eggs 

 are laid on the bare ground, and are grayish white, thickly spotted 

 and Vjlotched with brownish gray. They measure 1.24X.85. 



