OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. ig3 



as the sun is sinking below the horizon, numbers of these birds 

 are occasional!}' seen careering around high overhead, uttering 

 their peculiar cry, so readily recognized, yet so difficult either 

 to imitate or describe. While thus in the exercise of its most 

 wonderful powers of flight, and performing many graceful 

 aerial evolutions, it will suddenly change its course and plunge 

 headlong downwards with great rapidity, producing at the same 

 time a singular booming sound which can be heard for some 

 distance. Again, as quickly, with a few bold strokes of its long 

 pointed wings, it will rise to its former height, and dash hither 

 and thither as before. 



Poets, in all ages, have sung the praises of their favorite birds, 

 and even now, from the unpoetic plains of Chatham, comes the 

 following lines on the habit of the Nighthawk, just described : 



" With widespread wings and quivering boom, 

 Descending through the deepening gloom, 

 Like plummet fallmg from the sky. 

 Where some poor moth may vainly try 

 A goal to win — 

 ' He holds him with his glittering eye ' 

 And scoops him in." 



Towards the end of August, when the first frosts begin to 

 cut off their supply of insect food, large gatherings of Night- 

 hawks may be seen in the evenings moving toward the south- 

 west, not in regular order like Ducks or Pigeons, but skimming, 

 darting and crossing each other in every imaginable direction, 

 but still with a general tendency toward the south, till darkness 

 hides them from our view. 



Suborder CYPSELI. Swifts. 



Family MICROPODID^. Swifts. 



Subfamily CH^TURIN^. Spine-tailed Swifts. 



Genus CH^TURA Stephens. 



172. CH^TURA PELAGICA (Linn.). 423. 



Chimney S'veift. 



Sooty-brown with faint greenish gloss above, below paler, becoming gray 

 on the throat ; wings black. Length, about 5 ; wing the same ; tail, 2 or less. 



