78 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tlian tliose of the Common Nighthawk, with rather less suffu- 

 sion, otherwise similar, size absolutely less, the Florida sub- 

 species being a smaller and much more slender bird, but the 

 bills are larger, at least proportionately. Average dimensions : 

 length, 8.96; stretch, 22.20; wing, 7.66 ; tail, 4.16; bill, .25; 

 tarsus, .56. 



Note to 4206. — Since the above was written, Mr. Sennett has sepa- 

 rated the Florida Nighthawk from the Northern bird, giving it the nnme 

 above used. See " Auk " for April, 1888. Breeds in Florida, probably 

 north to South Carolina, and in Texas. 



421. Texan Nighthawk, Chordelies texensis. Eggs, rather 

 oval, ashy white, spotted and blotched so thickly with black, 

 umber, and purplish gray as to often completely obscure the 

 ground color; .85 -f- 1.10 to .75 -j- 1-18- Breeds in the south- 

 ern border of the United States, from Texas to California, 

 south to Central America. 



Family XLIII. — MICROFODID^. Swipts. 



Eggs, oval in form, more than 2 in number, and placed in 

 nests constructed by the birds, in hollow trees, chimneys, in 

 cavities of rocky cliffs, in caves, buildings, and, in some tropi- 

 cal species, beneath leaves of the palms. 



422. Black Swift, Cypseloides niger. Eggs, 4 or 5, Avhite, 

 oval; .68 + .96 to .71 + 1.00. . Breeds in the Rocky Moun- 

 tain region, from Colorado north to British Columbia, and in 

 the West Indies. Nests placed in cavities of buildings, com- 

 posed of sticks loosely laid together, and lined with leaves. 



423. Chimney Swift, Chaitura pelagica. (Type, Plate 

 X.) Eggs, 4 to 6, white, oval, but rather obtuse at the large 

 end ; .75 -j- -50 to .85 -|- .55. Breeds in Eastern North Amer- 

 ica, north to Ijabrador and the fur countries, west to the plains, 

 south to Georgia. Nests composed of twigs, glued together 

 with a mucilaginous substance that is secreted by glands that 

 are situated in the lower portion of the mouth, and placed, as 

 a rule, in chimnej's, but occasionally in hollow trees or in the 

 interior of buildings ; eggs deposited in May, 



