350 HISTORY OF THE 



States in winter to Cozumel Island, Jalapa, Mexico, and possibly 

 farther. 



SP. CHAR. "Tail slightly rounded. Sooty brown all over, except on the 

 throat, which becomes considerably lighter from the breast to the bill. Above 

 with a greenish tinge; the rump a little paler." 



Stretch of 

 Length. -wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.05 12.30 5.10 1.90 .45 .21 



Female 4.85 12.10 5.00 1.75 .45 .21 



Iris dark brown; bill and claws black; legs and feet brownish 

 black. The above are fresh measurements of a pair of adult 

 birds, shot in the month of June. From other measurements 

 as given, the bird should average a little larger. 



These wild, restless birds are gregarious and social in their 

 habits. I have often found them in the Indian Territory and 

 early settlements of Kansas, occupying large hollow trees 

 the sycamore the favorite and they occasionally continue to 

 do so in settled localities, but as a rule prefer the habitations 

 of man, and they are most abundant about our city homes, se- 

 creting themselves during the day and night, chiefly within 

 unused chimneys, occasionally in other suitable dark retreats, 

 coming forth at eve like the bats, but a little earlier, retiring at 

 dark. They are occasionally to be seen flying about during the 

 middle of bright, sunshiny days, but as a rule are rather crepus- 

 cular in their habits. 



Their food consists entirely of winged insects, in search of 

 which they never seem to flag or weary, crossing and recrossing 

 each other's course in their circling, chattering flights, gliding 

 along with rapid strokes of the wings or sailing with motionless 

 wings, as best suits their purpose. On account of their ex- 

 tremely long wings, they cannot readily rise from a level sur- 

 face, and therefore select, for a resting place, the perpendicular 

 sides or edges of an elevation, where they can at once launch 

 into the air. Their peculiarly-formed feet and spine-tipped tails 

 enable them to grasp and rest at ease in such positions. 



Their nests are placed in hollow trees, chimneys, etc. ; a pe- 

 culiar saucer-shaped semicircular structure, composed of small 

 sticks of uniform length and size, which are strongly glued to- 



