692 



GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



the wool and other soft, dowuy substances on the outside of its nest, 

 lining it with the rough stalks of dry grass. 



About the middle of June it Uiys four liglit cream-colored eggs, spar- 

 ingly spotted with dark reddish brown near the large end. 



Order 2.— STRISORES, SHRIEKING BIRDS. 



Family 28. — Alcedinid^, the Kingfishers. 

 Ceryle alcyon, Boie., (belted kingfisher :) 



Hah. — The entire continent of North America. 



Kingfishers were rare birds along our route, as this was the only 

 specimen seen. 



Family 32. — CAPRiMULGiDyE, the Goatsuckers. 



Antrostomus mittalU, Cassin, (poor-will:) 



Sal). — High central plains to the Pacific coast. 

 ' This rare bird was onl}^ found on the rocky slojies at the foot of the 

 Wahsatch Mountains; here, on the 12th of June, I obtained their eggs ; 

 they were pure white without spots, and were laid in a slight cavity in 

 the bare ground, without any nest. They contained full-grown embryos, 

 and would doubtless have hatched in a few hours. The male bird, No. 

 55 (C1735,) was shot as he left the nest, and as the feathers were worn 

 oft' his belly by sitting, it is evident that both male and female take part 

 in the incubation. 



Chordeiles Jwnryi, Oassin, (western night-hawk :) 



Hah. — Rocky Mountains, from Saskatchewan to Mexico. 



