1 02 I IFH-iHSTORIES OF BIRDS 



liar pal us com par, //. pensy Ivan f cus, among beetles. 



In addition to the above, the old birds subsist upon such 

 coleoptera as Pangus cctliginosus ^ Platynus cti pripcnuis* 

 liar pal us pensyfoanicus ^ //. carbonari us, CratoiiycJins 

 ciucreiis, C. pcrtinax, and Donacia cwijlucuta: and such 

 lepidoptera as Argynnis aphrodite, Pyrauieis card id, Pro- 

 cris amcricana. Riniomos subsignaria* Cdllimorpha 1c- 

 contei, and others. 



In habits, the Chimney Swift is crepuscular rather than 

 nocturnal, preferring to hunt for its prey early in the morning 

 and late in the afternoon, or, in obscure, cloudy weather. 

 At times, it is frequently observed on predatory excursions in 

 the broad glare of noon ; its time being apparently regulated 

 by the abundance or scarcity of insects. When with young, 

 a brief period is spent in the procurement of food for the 

 latter, even long after night-fall. 



The flight of this species is considerably varied and diffi- 

 cult of description. It consists of rapid sailing, and sudden 

 turnings in divers directions, with occasional quickly repeat- 

 ed strokes of the wings. Their manner of entering a chim- 

 ney by falling head-foremost, without any apparent concern, 

 is truly astonishing. They never rest except in their roost- 

 ing-places, to whose walls they cling with great tenacity, 

 being partially sustained by their rigid tail. 



Its only note is a simple chip which is uttered with con- 

 siderable force, and at times so quickly as to give rise to a 

 confused twittering. 



These Swifts continue to dwell in our midst until the 

 middle of September, when they retire to their southern 

 homes with as much silence as marked their advent, for it 

 must be remembered that their coming is both sudden and 

 mysterious. 



Their eggs are somewhat elliptical in outline, rather 

 less obtuse at one extremity than the other. The ground- 

 color is a pure unspotted white, varying but slightly in di- 



