SWIFTS-WARBLERS—FINCHES-SPARROWS-NIGHT-HAWKS-FLYCATCHER. 157 



Black Swift. {Nephcecetes nigar, var. borealis.) 

 Fig. 9. 



Western North America and the West Indies is the irregular 

 habitat of this rare species. Its general habits and characteristics 

 are very similar to the Chimney Swift, represented on Plate 

 LXXVL, fig. 7, page 118. 



Pacific Orange-crowned Warbler. (Helminthophaga celata, var. lutes- 



cens.) 



Fig. 10. 



This bird is the Pacific Coast variety of our Common Orange- 

 crowned Warbler {Helminthophaga celata) , represented on Plate 

 LXX., fig. 10, page 100. Its migrations are said to extend from 

 Alaska to Cape St. Lucas. 



Nevada Finch ; Artemisia Sparrow. {Poospiza belli, var. nevadensis.) 



Fig. 11. 



These birds, according to Mr. Ridgeway, have a very general 

 distribution, extending as far west as the eastern base of the Sierra 

 Nevada. At Carson City, February 27, he heard for the first time 

 their sweet, sad chant. A week later, he found the sage-brush 

 full of these birds, the males being in full song and answering one 

 another from all directions. In walking through the sage-brush 

 these Sparrows were seen on every side, some running upon the 

 ground with their tails elevated, uttering a chipping twitter, as they 

 sought to conceal themselves behind the shrubs. Some were seen 

 to alight upon the tops of dead stalks, where they sit with their 

 tails expanded almost precisely after the manner of the King-bird. 

 The song of this bird is feeble, but is unsurpassed for sweetness 

 and sadness of tone. While its effect is very like the song of a 

 Meadow Lark singing afar off, there is, besides its peculiar sad- 

 ness, something quite unique in its modulation and delivery. It is 

 a chant, in style somewhat like the spring warbling of the Shore 

 Lark. See Bell's Finch {Poospiza belli), Plate C, fig. 10, page 

 147 



Cassin's Sparrow, or Pine Finch. (Peucata cassini.) 



Fig. 12. 



Texas to California, southward to Mexico and north to Kansas, 

 is the range of this species. Its habits, general appearance, nest- 

 building and eggs are similar to Bachman's Finch, represented on 

 Plate LXVI., fig. 4, page 95. Mr. Allen met with this bird in 

 Kansas, and says, " it is rather common along the streams, when 

 its low but peculiarly sweet song is heard at morning and evening, 

 beginning with the first approach of dawn and continuing at even- 

 ing considerably after nightfall. It is very retiring, and it was 

 only after several attempts that I discovered the author of the sweet 

 notes that at these still hours added greatly to the pleasure of camp- 

 ing on the plains." 



Arizona Sparrow or Finch. {Peuccea aestivalis, var. arizona.) 



Fig. 13. 



This bird is a variety of Bachman's Finch, represented on Plate 

 LXVI., fig. 4, page 95. It is met with in Los Nogales, Sonora, 

 and Southern Arizona. Their habits, nesting and eggs are sim- 

 ilar. 



GambePs, or Western White-crowned Sparrow. 



phrys, var. gambeli.) 



Fig. 14. 



{Zonotrichia leuco- 



Gambel's Sparrow is the Pacific Coast variety of our common 

 White-crowned Sparrow, represented on Plate XXXVI. , fig. 7, 

 page, 49. It is found in great abundance from Mexico to the 

 Arctic Ocean, between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific. Dr. 

 Suckley says, it makes its nest in low bushes, among the stalks 

 of lupins and other shrub-like weeds. Dr. Cooper describes its 

 song as loud, but short and melancholy, heard at intervals during 

 the whole year, and frequently at night. Its food consists almost 

 wholly of seeds, sought mostly on the ground. 



Texas Night-hawk. (Chordeiles acutifennis, var. texensis.) 



Fig. 15- 



The Texas Night-hawk was added to our fauna in 185 1, by Mr. 

 Lawrence. It is met with in the Valley of the Rio Grande from 

 Texas on the east, through New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Cali- 

 fornia, and Cape St. Lucas. During the summer months it is 

 found in the northern provinces of Mexico, thence southward to 

 Central America. Dr. Cooper says they become quite numerous 

 about Fort Mohave by the 17th of April, hunting in companies 

 after sunset, and hiding during the day on the ground under low 

 bushes. By the 25th of May they had all paired, but continued 

 nearly silent, making only a low croaking when approached. 



Western Night-hawk, or Bull-bat. {Chordeiles virginianus,var. henryi.) 



Fig. 16. 



This bird is a Western variety of our common typical species 

 (represented on Plate LXXII., fig. 16, page 181). It was first de- 

 scribed in 1866, by Mr. Cassin, from specimens obtained by Mr. 

 Henry at Fort Webster, New Mexico. The habits of these birds 

 are similar. 



Yellow-throated Gray Warbler. (JDendroica dominica, var. albilora.) 



Fig. 17. 



The habits and characteristics of this bird are similar to those of 

 the Dendroica dominica, represented on Plate V., fig. 7, page 7. 

 In summer it migrates from the Mississippi region of the United 

 States to Lake Erie, leaving for the Atlantic, thence to Mexico to 

 winter. 



Vaux's, or Oregon Chimney Swift. (Chcetura vauxu) 



Fig. 18. 



Vaux's Swift was first discovered by Mr. Townsend, on the Co- 

 lumbia River, breeding in hollow trees, forming a nest in a similar 

 manner, and laying four pure white eggs. Its habits are similar 

 to the common Chimney Swift, represented on Plate LXXVL, 

 fig- 7» P a S e II8 - 



Green Black-capped or Pacific Coast Fly-catcher. (Myiodioctes pusillus, 

 var. pileolatus.) 



Fig. 19. 



A Pacific Coast variety of our common species, represented on 

 Plate XLVII, fig. 1, page 63. Dr. Suckley found it a very 

 abundant species on the coast, where it frequents thickets and 



