CHIMNEY SWIFT. 389 



Suddenly the entire mass begins to dive down into the chimney, as quick and as close 

 together as possible, and soon almost all have disappeared. A small number continues 

 to circle around and to chatter, and after a few minutes have passed, another swarm 

 has formed, almost as large, as wild, and as noisy as the first one, which finally also 

 disappears in the opening of the chimney. Now^ only a few are circling around, but 

 still small companies (or, in spring, single pairs) are arriving in great huiTy. They all 

 circle around first before they venture to dive down. Soon darkness sets in. Only a few 

 fly around like 'will o'the whisps,' finally also going to roost, and over the locality 

 so noisy a short time ago, now reigns the quietness of the night. When leaving the 

 chimney in the morning, they at once scatter over the whole region and in all directions, 

 provided the weather is fair. On windy and cool mornings they fly around rather 

 undecidedly, and one after the other again seeks the protection of the chimney." 



In Milwaukee I have seen them by the thousands roosting in a huge and high 

 chimney of a brewery. This roost I have visited several times in the evening as well 

 as early in the morning. In the evening they acted in the same way as Mr. Widmann 

 so vividly describes, but in the morning they left the chimney in a somewhat difierent 

 manner. As soon as the day dawned a few left their roost and circled around for a 

 few minutes, then they returned. In cold and rainy weather none were to be seen 

 before sunrise, but in warm and fine weather the whole swarm poured out over the 

 opening of the chimney like a cataract, flying down for a distance, and then all dis- 

 persed. This always happened before the first few, who evidently examined the condition 

 of the weather, had returned from their excursion in the air. This chimney formed the 

 roosting place for many thousands. 



In Wisconsin their fall migration begins early in September. I have seen none 

 after Sept. 15 in Milwaukee, while Mr. Otto Widmann has observed the last, in St. Louis, 

 Oct. 17. In Texas I have seen them throughout the month of October, and many were 

 observed by me in Orange Co., Fla., until Nov. 20. 

 NAMES: Chimney Swift, Chimney Swallow, Common Swift, Swift. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Hirando pelagka Unn. (1858). CHMTURA PBLAGICA Stuvh. (1825). 

 DESCRIPTION : "Tail, slightly rounded. Sooty-brown all over, except on the throat, which becomes con- 

 siderably lighter from the breast to the bill. Above with a greenish tinge; the rump a little paler. 

 "Length, 5.25 inches; wing, 5.10; tail, 2.15 inches." (B. B. & K., II, p. 4.32.) 



Vaux's Swift, Chsetura vauxH DeKay, represents the common Swift in t'he Pacific 

 coast, north to British Columbia. It is said to nest in hollow trees and to form a nest 

 in similar manner as its congener. 



White-throated Swift, Aeronautes melanoleucus Hartert. This species inhabits 

 the mountain regions of the West, from the Black Hills, northern Wyoming, and southern 

 Montana to the Pacific. Winters south to Guatemala. It seems to breed in the fissures 

 of high perpendicular rocks. 



