853 Eepokt of State Geologist. 



Suborder CYPSELI. Swifts. 

 XXXIV. Family MICROPODID^. Swifts. 



Subfamily CH^TUKINiE. Spine-tailed Swifts. 

 a" . Tail rounded or even ; feathers with spiny points at end. Ch^tuba 100 



100. Gknus CH.S;TURA Stephens. 



*170. (423). Chsetura pelagica (Linn.). 



Chimney Swift. 



Synonym, Chimney Swallow. 



Head and tail feather of Chimney Swift. Natural size. 



Above, sooty-brown, with faint greenish gloss; wings, black. Below, 

 paler; chin and throat, grayish. 



Length, 5.25-5.40; wing, 5.00-5.35; tail, 1.90-2.15. 



Eangb. — Eastern North America, from southern Mexico north to 

 Labrador and Manitoba; west to Texas and Nebraska. Breeds from 

 Florida and Texas northward. Winters south of United States. 



Nest, half-saucer shape, of twigs glued together and attached to side 

 of chimney or hollow tree. Eggs, 4-6; white; .79 by ,53. 



A|)undant summer resident. Breeds. In the early history of this 

 State these birds nested in hollow trees, and there are localities where 

 a few do so yet. Only a few years ago a large hollow sycamore near 

 Brookville, that for years was occupied by them, was cut down. The 

 large, old-fashioned chimneys were used by them in great numbers, 

 and they became such a nuisance that wire cloth was fastened over 

 them to exclude them. They do not use the smaller chimneys so 

 commonly-. I have known them to nest in stables and other deserted 

 buildings. Through the latter part of April they are seen mating, 

 but it iS' well into May before they begin breeding. The nests are 

 composed of dead twigs fastened to each other and to the wall with a 



