400 THE PACIFIC NIGHTHAWK. 
No. 157. 
PACIFIC NIGHTHAWK 
A. O. U. No. 420 part. Chordeiles virginianus hesperis J. Grinnell. 
Synonym.—BvLL-Bat. 
Description — Adult male: Mottled, black, gray and ochraceous, and with 
white in patches; above black predominates, especially on forehead and back, 
mottling falling into indistinct bars on upper tail-coverts and tail; anterior edge 
of wing white; the wing-quills dusky; a large, white, transverse patch about 
midway on the first five primaries, save on the outer web of the first; a large 
V-shaped throat-patch white; remaining underparts distinctly and finely barred, 
dusky and whitish with some faint ochraceous,—the latter found especially on 
the parts adjacent to the white throat-patch; the crissum sometimes pure white, 
usually barred, at greater intervals than on breast; a white band crossing tail 
near tip, except on central feathers. Bull without evident bristles, the horny part 
very small, but length of gape about an inch. ‘Tarsus very short; the middle 
claw enlarged, and with a curious, horny, comb-like process on the inner edge. 
Adult female: Similar, but without white band on tail, and with white spots 
on primaries often much reduced; throat-patch tinged with ochraceous, and suffu- 
sion of underparts by this color more pronounced. Jimmature: More finely and 
heavily mottled than adults, and with upperparts more heavily marked, or even 
suffused with ochraceous-buff. Length 9.00-10.00 (228.6-254); wing 4.85 
(123.2) ; tail 4.32 (109.7); bill from nostril .21 (5.3). 
Recognition Marks.—To appearance “Little Hawk’ size—really smaller; 
central white spot in long wing distinctive. 
Nesting.—Eggs: 2, deposited on the bare ground, often among rocks, some- 
times upon a flat rock, or on the gravel roof of a tall building; grayish white, or 
dull olive-buff marbled, mottled, or clouded and speckled with various shades of 
olive, and brownish- or purplish-giay. Avy. size, 1.18 x .86 (30x 21.8). Season: 
June; one brood. 
General Range.—Pacific coast slope north to British Columbia. 
Range in Washington.—West-side, summer resident in open situations. 
Authorities.—Chordeiles popetue, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 
Dh, miss. IS (CRS, 1B, 18, 
Specimens.— Prov. 
THE Nighthawk arrives so tardily—never before the middle of May 
and from that date to the middle of June—that he reminds us of the naughty 
child who has disregarded the parental summons and comes upon the scene 
sleepy and cross at 9.30 a. m., when all good little children are at school. We 
are sure, too, that it must be something like the necessity of eating cold victuals 
that makes the bird grumble bayard - bayard as it flits about discontentedly on 
the first morning. Moreover, there is always something incongruous about 
the appearance of this prairie species in the land of tall timber. He is like the 
