526 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



Subfamily CH^ETURINiE. Sharp-tailed Swifts. 



Genus CHiETURA Stephens. 

 201. Chaetura pelagica (Linn.). 



Chimney Swift. 



Distr.: Eastern North America, north to Labrador, and the Fur 

 Countries, west to the Great Plains and south to Central America 

 in winter. 



Adult: General plumage, sooty brown, showing a faint greenish 

 tinge on the upper parts; throat, grayish or pale ashy; a black spot 



Chimney Swift. 



in front of the eye; tail feathers with sharp spines at the ends, 

 formed by the shafts of the feathers extending beyond the webs. 



Length, about 5.50; wing, 4.90; tail, 1.85; bill, .18. 



The Chimney Swift is a common summer resident in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin, usually arriving in April and leaving for the south in 

 September or early in October. 



Nests in chimneys and hollow trees. The nest is made of twigs 

 glued together and fastened to the side of the chimney or tree by 

 secretion from the bird's salivary glands. The eggs are white, usually 

 five or six, and measure about .85 x .50 inches. Nidification usually 

 commences in May. 



