182 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, . 
young- poultry is simply absurd, as it requires only a careless examina- 
tion of a specimen to prove conclusively that it would be physically im- 
possible for them to capture such prey. 
The g-reat mistake of applying improper vernacular names to birds, 
was clearly demonstrated during the enforcement of the scalp act of 
1885 , when commissioners, of whom I have knowledge, took the stand 
that they were obliged to allow bounty on the Nighthawk, because it was 
known as a “ hawk.” 
Audubon writing of this species states that the food consists entirely 
of insects, especially beetles, although they also feed on moths and cat- 
erpillars, and are very expert in catching crickets and grasshoppers, 
with which they sometimes gorge themselves, as they fly over the ground 
with great rapidity. ‘‘ When flying closely ovei; the water they occa- 
sionally drink in the manner of swallows.” 
The food materials of eleven of these birds are given in the following 
table : 
No. 
Date. 
Locality. 
F'ood-Materials. 
] 
May 5, 1879 
Chester county, Pa 
Flies and other insects. 
2 
July 20. 1879 
Delaware county. Pa., 
Grasshoppers. 
3 
May 30. 1880 
Chester county. Pa 
Beetles and larvae. 
4 
Aug. 13, 1880 
Chester county. Pa 
Many crickets, etc. 
5 
Aug. 13. 1880 
Chester county. Pa 
Many crickets, etc 
0 
Aug. 13. 1880 
Chester county. Pa 
Many crickets, etc. 
1 - 
May 20, 1883 
Chester county. Pa 
Water beetles. 
8 
May 28. 1883 
Chester county. Pa 
Beetles and two lime-like masses. 
9 
April ~. 1885 
Orange county, Fla 
Various insects. 
10 
April . 1885 
Orange county, P'la 
Beetles and large hies. 
11 
June 1. 1880, . . . 
Chester county. Pa 
Various insects. 
SuBOHDER CYPSELI. Swifts. 
Family MIGROPODID.^. Swifts. 
Subfamily CHJETURIN^. Spine-tailed Swifts. 
Genus CH-ffiTURA Stephens. 
Chaetura pelagica (Linn.). 
Chimney Swift; Chimney-bird. 
Descbiption {Plate 90 ). 
Bill small, gape large, but not bristled ; tail short, tarsus and toes naked ; wings 
long ; length about 5| inches ; extent about ; wing about 5.10 ; sooty-brown, ex- 
cept throat which is much paler than other parts ; wings blackish. 
iYaftilaL— Eastern North America, north to Labrador and the Fur countries, west 
to the plains, and passing south of the United States in winter. 
The Chimney-bird, unless resting on its nest or clinging to the sooty 
chimney sides, is always seen flying. In Pennsylvania these birds are 
generalb^ first observed about the last week in April. In the early au- 
