Descriptive List 199 



Genus Chordeiles (Swains.) 



184. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus (Gmd). Nighthawk; "Bullbat." 



Description. — Blackish, barrod and mottled with grayish and buffy; a large white patch on 

 the wing; adult males with a broad bar of white across tail, except on two middle feathers. The 

 wings, when closed, reach quite to end of the tail or beyond, h., 9.75; W., 8.00; T., 4.50. 

 ^Range. — Eastern North America, wintering in South America. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State in summer. 



The Bullbat is found in all portions of the State in summer, but exactly when 

 it usually reaches the State in spring is hard to decide, as the records from differ- 

 ent localities vary so much from year to year. The earliest recorded dates are at 

 Raleigh, April 15; in Buncombe County, April 19; at Statesville, April 23; and 

 at Chapel Hill also April 23. At the same places in other years, however, the dates 

 of the first arrival in spring range as late as May 16. The latest dates wc have of 

 its occurrence in fall are October 6 at Raleigh, and October 13 in Buncombe County. 



This species, although breeding in all parts of the State, appears most numer- 

 ous during the fall migration, when large numbers may be seen passing southward 

 about sunset during any part of the period from mid-July to October. At this 

 time, before the passage of the Audubon bird and game law in 1903, they were 

 killed in large numbers by many of our so-called sportsmen, irrespective of the fact 

 that they were of little use as food and are of great service as destroyers of mos- 

 quitoes. 



Like the rest of the family, the Nighthawk is preeminently an insectivorous bird, 

 catching on the ^\ang and eating large numbers of the smaller flying insects. 



In addition to its ordinary note, which .sounds something hke "cheap," and which 

 is uttered on the wing, it makes a loud booming noise, apparently caused by its 

 rushing downward through the air, and then suddenly arresting its flight by wings 

 thrown strongly downward. 



The eggs are laid on bare ground in fields or open woods. They are two in num- 

 ber, about the same size as those of the Whip-poor-will, but much darker in color, 

 the markings being dark gray, slate, or blackish. They are deposited in May and 

 June. 



39. FAMILY MICROPODID/E. SWIFTS 



These are birds wth the gape broad and dee]), and the vnnga long and pointed. 

 The bones of the ■wing before the bend are unusually short, in which respect they 

 agree with the hummingbirds. One genus occurs with us. This has the shafts of 

 the tail-feathers bare at the tips, and consequently projecting as spinous points. 



Genus Chsetura (Steph.) 



185. Chaetura pelagica (Linn.). Chimney Swift; "Chimney Swallow." 



Description. — Sooty brown, throat paler. Tail-feathers ending in sharp spines. L., 5.25; 

 W., 5.00; T., about 2.00. 



Range. — Eastern North America in summer; winter range unknown. 

 Range in North Carolina. — Whole State in summer. 



