386 BIRDS—CYPSELID.A. 
from the nostrils along the upper mandible to the gape, across the lores in front of and 
above the eye. On the under surface of the wing a linear bare space may be noticed 
extending frem the carpal joint to the base of the first primary. Mr. Ridgway informs 
me that this space is found in the Hummingbirds. 
Abundant summer resident from April to October. Breeds. This 
singular bird, commonly called Chimney Swallow, presents many pe- 
culiarities which pass unnoticed because the bird is familiar. It is 
the only representative of its family in America east of the Rocky 
Mountains, and the only bird which has forsaken its natural breeding 
resorts to nest in chimneys. So sombre is its plumage, so well adapted 
efor not “showing dirt,” that, as an illustration of the theory of natural se- 
lection, the bird seems to be adapted to the chimney and not the chimney 
to the bird. Not many years since the birds were here and the chimneys 
were not, and we find historical evidence that they formerly occupied 
the hollow trunks of trees for breeding as well as roosting purposes. 
T. M. Harris in his Tour into the North-west Territory, 1805, givesthe 
following account of their occupation of trees for roosting purposes, which 
came under his observation within the limits of this State. The para- 
graph is quoted by Wilson, vol. v, 1812, 52: 
‘‘T may mention a large collection of feathers found within a hollow tree, which I ex- 
amined, with the Rev. Mr. Story, May 18th, 1803. It isin the upper part of Waterford, 
about two miles distant from the Muskingum. A very large sycamore, which through 
age, had decayed and fallen down, contained in its hollow trunk, five and a half feet in 
diameter, and for nearly fifteen feet upward, a mass of decayed feathers, with a small 
admixture of brownish dust, and the exuviz of variousinsects. The feathers were so 
rotten, that if was impossible to determine to what kind of birds they belonged. They 
were less than those of the Pigeon; and the largest of them were like the pinion and 
tail feathers of the Swallow. I examined carefully this astonishing collection, in the 
hope of finding the bones and bills, but could not distinguish any. The tree, with some 
remains of its ancient companions lying around, was of a growth preceding that of the 
neighboring forest. Near it and even out of its mouldering ruins grew thrifty trees, of a 
size which indicate two or three hundred years of age.” 
‘‘Such, continues Wilson,” are the usual roosting places of the Chimney Swallow 
in the more thinly settled parts of the country. In towns, however, they are differ- 
ently situated ; and it is a matter of curiosity to observe that they frequently select the 
court-house chimney, for their general rendezvous, as being usually more central, and 
less liable to interruption during the night.” 
In this city, thirty years ago, the Chimney Swifts like the Martins 
roosted under the cornices of high buildings, and were not a whit behind 
their distant relatives, in the formal manceuyering and noisy clatter, 
which preceded their retiring. Now, many of them rendezvous in the 
large chimneys of mills and factories, but, true to their ancient predilec- 
tion, the greater number congregate in the large chimneys of the State 
