GOATSUCKERS AND SWIFTS 



423. Chimney Swift. Chmtura pelagica. 



Range. — North America east of the Plains, 

 breeding from central Canada, south to the Gulf 

 coast, and wintering south of our horders. 



This well known species is sooty brownish 

 black, 5.5 inches long, and has the tail feathers 

 terminating in sharp spines. They are very 

 abundant in all portions of their range, and 

 may be seen on the wing at all hours of the 

 day, but especially abundant in the early morn- 

 ing and toward dusk. They formerly dwelt 

 and bred only in hollow trees, and a great many 

 still continue to do so, as large hollow stumps 

 are known where hundreds nest every year. 

 The majority of the eastern Chimney Swifts 

 now nest in old chimneys that are unused, at 

 least during the summer; some small chimneys 

 contain but a single pair while other large ones 

 may have from fifty to a hundred or more nests 

 glued to the sides. The birds are on the wing 

 during the greater part of the day, generally 

 not frequenting the vicinity of their nesting 

 site, but returning toward dusk, when they may 



Chimney Swift 



E. II, Forreat 

 NEST AND KGGS OF CHIMNKY SWIFT 



269 



