Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 561 



1888), and returning usually in March (March 12, 1898 ; March 20, 

 1903). Its arrival was overlooked in the spring of 1900, or at least unre- 

 corded, although a single specimen was taken April 17. In the fall there 

 was an immense movement of these birds beginning about September 

 15, and continuing to near the end of the month. During this period 

 they were exceedingly abundant, thronging the wooded portions of. the 

 Peninsula, and apt to be met with even in the open. Like the Yellow- 

 bellied Woodpeckers, they seemed partial to wild cherry trees, and 

 often a half dozen or more could be seen in one such tree. The 

 species was present in diminished numbers through October, and the 

 last record was of a single bird seen September 17, with a party of 

 Meadowlarks on the sand-barrens near the outside beach. 



118. Antrostomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. 



A summer resident species, which, curiously enough, was found by 

 us only in the tract of woodland at the foot of the board-walk, between 

 Yellow Bass and Graveyard Ponds, where it seemed to be not uncom- 

 mon after its arrival on May 1. Mr. Bacon, however, thinks these 

 birds were transients, as he has seen the species on but two occasions, 

 (September 4, 1899 ; July 19, 1902), and has heard its notes only 

 on a few occasions in May, and hence considers it rare on both the 

 Peninsula and the mainland during the summer. Mr. Simpson reports 

 having taken a specimen north of Niagara Pond on April 26, 1902. 



119. Chordeiles virginianus. Nighthawk. 



Not uncommon as a summer resident. It is, however, much more 

 numerous during the migrations than in summer, but occasional birds 

 are seen at the latter season, and no doubt it breeds regularly. In 

 1900 its arrival was noted May 16, and one was seen the next day. 

 The only other record is of a single bird seen and positively identified 

 on September 23, flying over at Crystal Point. This is a very late 

 date indeed. "On May 17, 1894, 1 observed a flight of these birds, in 

 small parties of from two to six individuals, going eastward along the 

 Lake Erie shore. They seemed to follow at fairly regular intervals, 

 and during [the two hours that I was able to observe them, I saw 

 probably one hundred birds. On August 28, 1901, a similar flight 

 was noticed by some of my friends, a peculiar circumstance connected 

 with which was that the birds, although in fall migration, also fol- 

 lowed the lake shore to the east, the same course as pursued in the 

 spring." (Bacon). 



