Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 97 



The Nighthawk breeds as far north as southern Labrador, and 

 winters south to the Argentine Republic. 



FAMILY MICROPODID.E: SWIFTS. 



171. Chaetura pelagica (Linn.). Chimney Swift. 



Although the Chimney "Swallow," as it is locally called, 

 almost always arrives by March 28, it is one of the latest to breed 

 of all the birds on the coast. I have never detected this species 

 later than October 28, which is possibly the limit of its sojourn 

 here in autumn. 



From the time it arrives until nearly the last of May no attempt 

 is made to build a nest; the birds spend nearly two months on the 

 wing enjoying themselves. I have often wondered how many 

 miles these birds travel daily, for their powers of flight are certainly 

 remarkable— they seem never to tire. When the weather is 

 cloudy the birds invariably fly low, but when it is fair they fly at a 

 great height. The reason is obvious, as the insect life which 

 forms their food is near the earth on cloudy or murky days and 

 the reverse when the weather is fair. 



The nest is commenced the last of May, and is composed of dead 

 twigs which the birds snap from trees while on wing. These 

 twigs are firmly glued together with saliva. Some nests are very 

 strongly built while others fall when it has rained for any length 

 of time. The nest is almost always placed on the south side of a 

 chimney, sometimes near the top and again near the bottom. In 

 some places where there are no chimneys, as along the Savannah 

 River swamp, this bird places its basket-like nest in the hollows 

 of cypress trees, and birds which have been frequenting the cy- 

 press have the throat pure white in contrast with those that breed 

 in chimneys, which invariably have the throat brownish. By 

 June 15, full complements of eggs, which number five or six, are 

 laid, and these are pure white and measure .75 X -50. I took a 

 set of six eggs on May 25, 1908. The birds commence to incu- 

 bate upon the advent of the first egg, and only one brood is 

 raised. 



The Chimney Swift ranges from Florida to Nova Scotia in sum- 

 mer, and winters in Mexico. 



