202 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



420. Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus. 



Range. North America, east of the Plains and from Labrador to the Gulf of 

 Mexico; winters through Mexico to northern South America. 



The Nighthawk or some of its sub-species is found 

 in nearly all parts of North America, its habits being 

 the same in all localities. It is of the same size as 

 the Whip-poor-will, from which species it can readily 

 be distinguished by its lack of mouth bristles, forked 

 tail with a white band near the end, and the white 

 band across the primaries, the latter mark showing 

 very plainly during flight. Besides in the country, 

 they are very common in cities, where they will be 



TGravish white! se ? n any summer day towards dusk flying, skim- 



ming, sailing, and swooping over the tops of the 



buildings, upon the gravel roofs of which they often lay their eggs. They nest 

 generally on rocky hillsides or in open woods, laying their two eggs upon the 

 top of a flat rock. The eggs are a grayish white color, marbled, blotched and 

 spotted with darker shades of gray. Size 1.20 x .85. 



420a. Western Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus 

 henry i. 



Range. United States west of the Plains. 



A similar bird to the preceding, but with plumage 

 somewhat more rusty. It frequents the more open 

 portions of the country in its range, its habits and 

 nesting habits being the same as those of the former 

 species; the eggs average a trifle lighter in color. 



[Grayish white. 



420b. Florida Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus chapmani. 



Range. A smaller and paler form found in Florida and along the Gulf coast. 

 No difference can be observed in the nesting habits of this as compared with the 

 northern form and the eggs are indistinguishable. 



420c. Sennett Nighthawk. Cordeiles virgianus sennetti. 



Range. A very pale species with little or no tawny; found in the Great Plains 

 from Texas north to the Saskatchewan: winters south of the United States. 



421. Texan Nighthawk. Chordeiles acutipennis texensis. 



Range. Mexico and Central America, breeding north to southern Utah and 

 California. 



The pattern of the marking of this species is finer and 

 more mottled with rusty than the Nighthawk. Its hab- 

 its do not differ to any extent from those of the preced- 

 ing species; they lay their two mottled gray eggs upon 

 the bare ground, often on the dry sand and in arid 

 regions where they are exposed, with no protection, to 

 the scorching rays of the sun. The eggs vary endlessly 

 in extent of markings, some being very pale and others 

 very dark gray, mottled with various shades of gray, 

 brown, and lilac. Size 1.10 x .75. 



[Grayish white.] 



