Family Micropodidce Chimney Swift 143 



FAMILY MICROPODID^S 



81. CHIMNEY SWIFT ; CHIMNEY " SWALLOW " 



(Chcetura pelagic a.) 



Entire body, both above and below, a sooty brown, lighter on the 

 throat; wings black. Beak extremely small and weak, black ; 

 feet small, black. Bird with very long wings, and a tail so short 

 as to be almost absent ; tail feathers with spiny tips. Bird 

 considerably smaller than a sparrow. 



THE chimney swift reaches us early in May, and 

 leaves again in August or September. He is readily 

 recognized by his skimming, swallow-like flight, and 

 apparent want of tail. He is a very common bird ; 

 but as he is always on the wing, save when in his 

 roosting-place, it is impossible to predict where he 

 may be found. The best way to study these birds 

 is to find a chimney which they inhabit, and watch 

 them as they gather in great flocks toward evening, 

 circling about the chimney, and gradually dropping 

 into it. 



The nests are ordinarily fastened to the inside of 

 a chimney, though in sparsely settled regions the 

 birds are said to still build them as they formerly 

 did, in hollow trees. Eggs are laid about the end 

 of May, and there are often two sets. 



