130 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



longing to this subspecies. Since the geographic distribution of 

 the Poor-wills does not seem to be definitely established, it will 

 be well to examine carefully every specimen taken in Missouri. 



*420. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). Nighthawk. 



Caprimvlgus virginianus. Caprimulgus popetue. Chordeiles popetue. Bull- 

 bat. Mosquito Hawk. 



Geog. Dist. — Breeds in the eastern United States from Gulf 

 coast northward, chiefly north of lat. 35°; west to the Plains. 

 North of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 

 -north to Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River, and in wooded dis- 

 tricts of the western United States south to northern California. 

 Winters from the Bahamas and Central America to the Argentine 

 Republic. 



In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the 

 state, but not at all common as a summer resident except in 

 towns and cities where it lays its eggs and rears its young un- 

 disturbed on gravel roofs of the highest buildings. It also breeds 

 on cliffs and bluffs along the large rivers and on ridges of the 

 Ozarks, but seems to have been driven from the prairie region. 

 Quiet during breeding time it becomes noisy early in July when, 

 joined by its still more vociferous offspring, it attracts general 

 attention to its wonderful aerial evolutions and gives the city 

 people opportunity for admiration until migration begins in 

 August. The spirit of unrest seems to seize it early in August 

 when it deserts its breeding haunts in the city to go hunting over 

 lakes and rivers, fields and meadows, along the edge of woods 

 and in the clearings, and it soon becomes evident that migration 

 from the north has commenced. The bulk of the transient visi- 

 tants passes through Missouri between August 25 and September 

 25 when considerable numbers may be seen in large loose troops 

 anywhere in the state, but no such imposing sights have been 

 enjoyed during the last ten years as formerly, when in the face of 

 on-coming thunderstorms hundreds, yes thousands, of these 

 swift and graceful flyers were speeding southward in dense flocks. 

 Recommended in newspapers by the sporting editor as delicious 

 game the Bull-bats have been the target of our hunting fraternity 

 for years, but the new game law of 1905 does not consider Bull- 

 bats as legitimate game, and it is to be hoped the destruction of 

 this useful bird will cease. In spite of their rapid and unsteady 

 flight large numbers are maimed or killed, because, unmindful 



