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CHIMNEY SWIFT. 



{Choetura Pelasgica.) 

 There is hardly anything which is more common, or 



seen of tener in summer than this member of the swal- 

 low family. It is here in early spring and may be 

 seen in little companies flying around in circular evolu- 

 tions, catching insects, at which they are very expert, 

 all the while uttering their short, pleasant twitter. In 

 the evening they gather in groups around the mouth 

 of the chimney, and, flying around it rapidly, a few 

 tumble in at a time until all are safely lodged within 

 its walls. The plumage of this swallow is dusky. The 

 nest is placed in chimneys, being fastened to the walls 

 and the parents and young there live amid the smoke 

 and heat. Before chimneys were so common these 

 birds built their nests in hollow trees. Eggs, four to 

 six, oval, about half an inch long, color dingy white. 



WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



( Caprimulgus Vociferus. ) 

 This bird may be seen to best advantage in summer 



evenings, when it flies in circles and evolutions high in 



the sky, uttering its harsh note, ever and anon making 



a deep dive or curve in the air. The general color is 



black with white bands and marks. The wings are 



long and pointed. There are a number of stiff bristles 



around the mouth. The Indians call this bird the 



Wish-ton-wish, and regard its notes as answers to some 



of their superstitious ideas. This bird makes no nest, 



but lays its eggs on the ground or a large rock. They 



are a grayish color, spotted with lilac or brown. Closely 



related to this bird is the Night Hawk, (Chordeiles 



Popetue), but is a separate species, as decided by our 



naturalists. 



