The Texas Nighthawk 



recorded occurrence is perhaps that of Sugarloaf in the San Bernardinos, 

 where Grinnell found them on August 20th, at 7500 feet. 



It is doubtless improper to speak of the "nesting" of the Texas 

 Nighthawk. Nest she has none, but her two eggs are laid upon the bare 

 ground, and this almost of necessity is of some complexion of sand. The 

 parched spaces between creosote bushes, where the particles of soil, 



Taken near San Diego 



Photo by Donald R. Dickey 



MR. DICKEY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE SHADOWS 



although fine, are still so hot that they hate each other, are one type of 

 bottom. The coarse granitic sand poured out of Tujunga Canyon by the 

 winter freshets is another. The gravel beds of the desert ranges whose 

 component pebbles are sered by volcanic acids are a third. If the eggs have 

 any cover at all, it is the accidental shade of some scraggly bush, and 

 when uncovered they are the very color of the ground. Or, to be exact, 

 their ground-color is dull white or pale grayish white, rarely greenish or 

 pinkish gray. The markings, of olive or bister, are finely comminuted 

 (4800 pigment strokes to the square inch in one specimen in my collection), 

 or, rarely, coarsely and sparingly spotted ; still more rarely, marks are 

 altogether wanting. 



1068 



