94 CONTHIBUTIONS FROM THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM. 



bred here. If there has been a sudden drop in the temperature, 

 accompanied by a northeast wind, a large migration of these 

 birds may be expected as early as October 4, but I have never 

 noted a spring migration. 



The nests are excavated in dead pine trees and generally at 

 a great height, but occasionally within twelve feet of the ground. 

 The eggs are generally laid about the middle of April and vary 

 in number from five to seven, the latter being rare. In some 

 forward seasons I have taken full complements of eggs contain- 

 ing small embryos as early as April 7, while I have observed birds 

 which had apparently had no mishap, incubating as late as May 

 18. Two broods are raised each year — a new hole being exca- 

 vated for the second brood. The eggs are glossy white and vary 

 greatly in size. I have taken a few which were almost as large 

 as those of the Pileated Woodpecker, but the average size is 

 about 1.10X.90. 



Of all the woodpeckers, this species is the most beneficial to 

 the agriculturists. 



ORDER MACROCHIRES: GOATSUCKERS, 

 SWIFTS, AND HUMMING-BIRDS. 



FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDjE: GOATSUCKERS, ETC. 



168. Antrostomuscarolinensis(Gmel.). Chuck- will 's-widow. 



The Chuck- will 's-widow is a summer resident arriving in the 

 vicinity of Charleston during the third week in March. I mention 

 four dates upon which the first birds were heard, namely — March 

 24, 1884; March 30, 1890; March 30, 1896, and March 22, 1897. 



The males arrive first, and the females four or five days after- 

 wards. During the pairing season it is very amusing to observe 

 the antics of the male. He struts before the female with as much 

 pomposity as a turkey gobbler. He tries to crow, and swells his 

 throat out almost to bursting as he endeavors after his fashion 

 to make himself appear as fascinating as possible. After mating 

 is completed, the two birds remain side by side on the ground, or 

 on a rotten log in the woods. Sometime after this the female 

 may be seen looking for a suitable place in the woods to deposit 

 her two eggs, and these are sometimes laid as early as the last 

 week in April. The eggs are usually placed either on the ground 



