PASSERES — CAPRIMULGIDiE — CHORDEILES. 35 



with the Whippoorwill, or sometimes earlier. Its first appearance is known by a booming 

 sound heard high in air, while the bird itself is unseen. When a boy at school, I remember 

 to have heard this mysterious sound along the Connecticut river, and was told that it was the 

 Shad Spirit, announcing to the scholes of shad, about to ascend the river, their impending 

 fate. This may probably have been derived from the traditionary mythisms of the Indians. 



This species is often confounded with the Whippoorwill by persons not conversant with 

 natural history, but a slight attention to their generic differences will establish their distinctive 

 characters. Mr. Giraud remarks, that from the shortness of the legs and feet of the Night 

 Hawk, it is always observed, when perched, to be sitting lengthwise of the branch. 



The Night Hawk has a wide range from Mexico to the Arctic islands, where, as the sun 

 never sets during its stay, it cannot be considered as a nocturnal species. 



FAMIL Y HIR UNDINID^E. 



Bill very short, broad at base, compressed at the end. Upper mandible with few or no bristles 

 at its base ; its edge inflected, with a notch more or less distinct. Gape wide. Nostrils 

 oblong, contiguous, basal. Feet very short. Toes very short ; the three anterior subequal ; 

 the hind toe very small, more or less versatile. Claws strong, compressed, curved, acute. 

 Wings extremely long, falciform. Tail various, of ten or twelve feathers. Plumage 

 compact. 



GENUS CELETURA. Stephens. 



Tail-feathers ten, stout ; the shafts elongated into points projecting beyond the webs. Edge 

 of upper mandible with an indistinct sinus. Tarsus bare, not scutellate, longer than the 

 middle toe, which scarcely exceeds the outer. Second quill longest. Flight irregular. 



THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 



Chjetura pelasgia. 



plate xxvii. fig. 58. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Male and Female.) 



Hirtmdo pelaagia, Linn. Chimney Swallow, Wilson, Orn. Am. Vol. 5, p. 48, pi. 39, fig. 1. 



Cypselus pelasgius. Bonapakte, Obs. No. 175; Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 63. 



Chimney Swift or Swallow. Ncttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 609. Audubon, fol. pi. 158; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, 



p. 329, and Vol. 5, p. 419. 

 Chimney Swallow, or American Swift. Id. B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 164, pi. 44 (male and female). 

 American Swift, C. pelasgia. Gikaub, Birds of Long Island, p. 33. 



Characteristics. Deep sooty brown. Chin, and line over the eye, dull whitish. Wings 

 extending an inch and a half beyond the tail, which is even. Length, 

 4-5 inches. 



5« 



