1 8 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



straying from their retreats. A good way to 

 secure these birds is to note as accurately as pos- 

 sible the point where one begins to sing ; then, on 

 the following evening, conceal yourself near the 

 spot, when the bird will be seen to emerge from 

 its retreat and alight on some particular rock, post, 

 or branch, on which it invariably perches, and utters 

 its song. Then if the bird be too far away to 

 secure at the time, it may readily be taken another 

 evening by the collector posting himself nearer. 

 These birds may also be started from their con- 

 cealment during daylight, and thus be shot. The 

 night-hawks inhabit the more open sections, but 

 perch on trees during the day. They may readily 

 be secured while flying over the fields. 



Cypselid^e : Swifts. — The white-throated swift 

 occurs among the clefts of the Rocky Mountains, 

 and is exceedingly difficult to procure. The well- 

 known chimney swift inhabits chimneys almost 

 everywhere, but, as it never alights outside of these 

 retreats, must be shot on the wing. 



TrochilidjE : Hummingbirds. — Inhabit as a 

 rule the open country. I have secured numbers of 

 our ruby-throats on cherry-trees when they were 

 in blossom, and later, on beds of flowers ; and I 

 presume the western species may be found in sim- 



