BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
223 
Plate XXXVIII. 
CHT:TURA PELASGICA, (Linn.) Baied. 
Chimney Swift^ 
This species chiefly conflnes its migrations to the eastern portions of 
North America, from the Atlantic westward to the eastern base of the 
Rocky Monntains, and northward to the 50th parallel of latitude. In the 
fur-hearing countries it is probably a stranger, as no mention is made of 
it by Dr. Richardson in his explorations. Mr. Say met with it at Pem- 
bina, on the Red River, in Northern Minnesota; Mr. Allen, in great 
abundance, in Kansas ; hut it is doubtful as to its occurrence in New 
Mexico, notwithstanding the high authority of Dr. Woodhouse, as later 
observers are silent u]3on the subject. It has also been claimed by the 
last-mentioned traveler as being found in parts of Texas, but Mr. Dresser 
was unable to take it, and it does not apjiear that it has ever been met 
with by the naturalists of any of our Western expeditions. The accounts 
given by early writers of its presence along the Paciflc region, it is now 
decided, pertain not to this species, but to a distinct and closely allied 
one. Respecting its winter- quarters we are in the dark. It is not likely 
that it remains in any portion of the United States during the autumnal 
and brumal months, not to any great extent, if it does at all, as it has 
been observed by Allen entering Florida during the latter days of March. 
Lawrence, Salvin and Sclater, as well as other writers of note on the birds 
of Mexico, Central America and the 'West Indies, make no mention of it. 
Its southern journey usually occurs about the middle of September, seldom 
later, and is performed with so much silence and suddenness, that we are 
only made aware of the vacancy which their departure has produced, by 
the missing of their confused yet pleasant chatterings at morn and night. 
