386 BIRDS — CTPSELID^. 



from the nostrils along the upper mandible to the gape, across the lores in front of and 

 above the eye. On the under surface of the wing a linear bare space may be noticed 

 extending frem the carpal joint to the base of the first primary. Mr. Ridgway informs 

 me that this space is found in the Hummingbirds. 



Abundant summer resident from April to October. Breeds. This 

 singular bird, commonly called Chimney Swallow, presents many pe- 

 culiarities which pass unnoticed because the bird is familiar. It is 

 the only representative of its family in America east of the Rocky 

 Mountains, and the only bird which has forsaken its natural breeding 

 resorts to nest in chimneys, So sombre is its plumage, so well adapted 

 for not "showing dirt," that, as an illustration of the theory of natural se- 

 lection, the bird seems to be adapted to the chimney and not the chimney 

 to the bird. Not many years since the birds were here and the chimneys 

 were not, and we find historical evidence that they formerly occupied 

 the hollow trunks of trees for breeding as well as roosting purposes. 



T. M. Harris in his Tour into the North-west Territory, 1805, gives the 

 following account of their occupation of trees for roosting purposes, which 

 came under his observation within the limits of this State. The para- 

 graph is quoted by Wilson, vol. v, 1812, 52 : 



"I may mention a large collection of feathers found within a hollow tree, which I ex- 

 amined, with the Rev. Mr. Story, May 18th, 1803. It is in the upper part of Waterford, 

 about two miles distant from the Mnskingam. A very large sycamore, which through 

 age, had decayed and fallen down, contained in its hollow trunk, five and a half feet in 

 diameter, and for nearly fifteen feet upward, a mass of decayed feathers, with a small 

 admixture of brownish dust, and the exuvise of various insects. The feathers were so 

 rotten, that it was impossible to determine to what kind of birds they belonged. They 

 were less than those of the Pigeon ; and the largest of them were like the pinion and 

 tail feathers of the Swallow. I examined carefully this astonishing collection, in the 

 hope of finding the hones and bills, but could not distinguish any. The tree, with some 

 remains of its ancient companions lying around, was of a growth preceding that of the 

 neighboring forest. Near it and even out of its mouldering ruins grew thrifty trees, of a 

 size which indicate two or three hundred years of age." 



" Such, continues Wilson," are the usual roosting places of the Chimney Swallow 

 in the more thinly settled parts of the country. In towns, however, they are differ- 

 ently situated ; and it is a matter of curiosity to observe that they frequently select the 

 court-house chimnoy, for their general rendezvous, as being usually more central, and 

 less liable to interruption during the night." 



In this city, thirty years ago, the Chimney Swifts like the Martins 

 roosted under the cornices of high buildings, and were not a whit behind 

 their distant relatives, in the formal manceuvering and noisy clatter, 

 which preceded their retiring. Now, many of them rendezvous in the 

 large chimneys of mills and factories, but, true to their ancient predilec- 

 tion, the greater number congregate in the large chimneys of the State 



