On the Birds of Ritchie County. 143 



and rather harsh rattle. Their habitual attitude is an erect one, and they 

 have a peculiar habit of sailing from tree to tree with spread wings and 

 tail, somewhat in the manner of Perisoreus Canadensis. 



74. Sayornis fuscus (Gm.) Bd. Extremely common. A few were 

 breeding under the railroad bridges along the creek, but by far the greater 

 number clung to their aboriginal proclivities, and nested in the rocky ra- 

 vines of the mountain brooks. 



A nest found by Mr. Ingersoll, April 26th, contained six eggs, every one 

 of which was spotted, and some of them as much so as average specimens 

 of Contopus virens. This nest was attached to the stone abutments of a 

 bridge and differed not appreciably from northern examples in either ma- 

 terial or architecture. 



75. Contopus virens (L.) Cab. The first specimen, taken May 9th, 

 afterwards became rather numerous. Found exclusively in the woods. 



76. Empidonax minimus Bd. A siugle individual taken May 7th was 

 the only specimen noted. (E. Acadicus undoubtedly occurs as Mr. Inger- 

 soll who is well acquainted with the species observed several old nests in 

 the woods). 



Family CAPRIMULGID^l. Goatsuckers. 



77. Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.) Bp. Very common, as many as five 

 or six individuals being frequently within hearing at one time. A male, 

 which 1 heard on the evening of May 9th, after commencing in the usual 

 way, regularly finished his song by omitting the first syllable on the last 

 eight or ten repetitions thus : poor-will, poor-will, poor-will, etc. 



78. Chordeiles Virginianus (Briss.) Bp. Rare. A single specimen 

 noted at Laurel Junction, May 9th. 



Family CYPSELID^. Swifts. 



79. Chmtura pelasgia (L.) Steph. Arrived April 29th and soon became 

 abundant. Whether or not they resorted to hollow trees in this section, 

 for breeding, I was unable to ascertain, but if they breed here at all, I 

 think such must be the case, as the small, narrow chimneys of the log 

 houses in the village, are but ill adapted to their wants. 



Family TROCHILID^. Humming birds. 



80. Trochilus colubris L. Rather numerous in the woods. Arrived 

 May 2d. 



Family ALCEDINID^. Kingfishers. 



81. Ceryle alcyon (L.) Boie. Very common. Several nests were dis- 

 covered in the banks along the creek, but none of them explored. 



