and are easily carried from the fact of their being light. On the middle toe is a curiously pectinated claw, which is supposed to be useful for ridding the bird of the insects with which it is troubled. When disturbed in the woods, if it alights on a branch it always sits lengthways, in which position it is very apt to be mistaken for a growth, and escape observation.

It is one of the few birds whose call can be intelligibly put into words. The experiment is often tried with other species, but in very few instances can they be printed so as to be recognized when heard out of doors.

GENUS CHORDEILES SWAINSON.

CHORDEILES VIRGINIANUS (GMEL.).

181. Nighthawk. (420)

Above, mottled with black, brown, gray and tawny, the former in excess ; below from the breast, transversely barred with blackish and white or pale fulvous ; throat in the male with a large white, in the female tawny, cross-bar; tail, blackish, with distant pale marbled cross-bars and a large white spot (wanting in the female) on one or both webs of all the feathers toward the end; quills, dusky, unmarked except by one large white spot on five outer primaries about midway between their base and tip; in the female this area is restricted or not pure white. Length, about 9; wing, 8; tail, 5.

HAB.-Northern and Eastern North America, east of the Great Plains, south through tropical America to Buenos Ayres.

Eggs, two, deposited on rocks or on the ground, or among the gravel of a flat-roofed house in the city. They vary from pale olive-buff to buffy and grayish-white thickly mottled and daubed with varied tints of darker gray slate, olive or even blackish mixed with a marbling of purplish-gray, both pattern and tints being very variable.

This is a well-known and abundant summer resident, arriving from the south early in May. Though a Nighthawk, it is often seen abroad by day during cloudy weather, and in the evening, just as the sun is sinking below the horizon, numbers of these birds are occasionally seen careering around high overhead, uttering their peculiar cry, so readily recognized, yet so difficult either to imitate or describe. While thus in the exercise of their most wonderful powers of flight, and performing many graceful aerial evolutions, they will suddenly change their course and plunge headlong downwards with great rapidity, producing at the same time a singular booming sound which can be heard for some distance. Again, as

quickly, with a few bold strokes of their long, pointed wings, they will rise to the former height, and dash hither and thither as before.

Poets, in all ages, have sung the praises of their favorite birds, and even to-day, from the unromantic plains of Chatham come the following lines on the habit of the Nighthawk, just described : With half closed wings and quivering boom, Descending through the deepening gloom, Like plummet falling from the sky, Where some poor moth may vainly try A goal to win-

He holds him with his glittering eye
And scoops him in."

Towards the end of August, when the first frosts begin to cut off their supply of insect food, large gatherings of Nighthawks may be seen in the evenings moving toward the south-west, not in regular order like ducks or pigeons, but skimming, darting and crossing each other in every imaginable direction, and still with a general tendency toward the south, till darkness hides them from our view.

Sooty brown with faint greenish gloss above; below, paler, becoming gray on the throat; wings, black. Length, about 5; wing, the same; tail, 2 or less. HAB.-Eastern North America, north to Labrador and the Fur Countries, west to the Plains, and passing south of the United States in winter.

Nest, a basket of twigs glued together, and to the side of the chimney or other support by the saliva of the bird.

Eggs, four or five, pure white.

The Swift is a late comer, and while here seems ever anxious to make up for lost time, being constantly on the wing, darting about with great rapidity, sometimes high overhead, sometimes skimming the surface of the pond, often so closely as to be able to sip from the water as it passes over it, or snap up the insects which hover on the surface.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.

257

The original nesting place of the Swifts was in a hollow tree, often of large diameter, and frequented year after year by a great many of the birds, but now they seem to prefer a city chimney. There they roost, and fasten their curious basket nests to the wall, inside the chimney, a few feet down, to be out of reach of the rays of the sun. A fine exhibition of bird-life it is to watch the Swifts, in the evening about sunset, circling a few times round the chimney, raising their wings above their backs and dropping like shuttlecocks down to their nest, near which they spend the night clinging to the wall with their claws. The sharp spines at the end of the tail feathers, pressed against the surface, form their chief support.

They arrive about the 10th of May, and leave for the south early in September.

183. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (428)

Male-With the tail forked, its feathers all narrow and pointed; no scales on crown; metallic gorget reflecting ruby-red, etc.; above, golden green; below, white; the sides, green; wings and tail, dusky purplish. Female :-Lacking the gorget; the throat, white; the tail, somewhat double-rounded, with black bars, and the outer feathers white-tipped. Length, 34; wing, 13; bill, 3.

HAB.-Eastern North America to the Plains, north to the Fur Countries, and south, in winter, to Cuba and Veragua.

Nest, a beautiful specimen of bird architecture, usually placed on the horizontal branch of a tree in the orchard, composed of gray lichens, lined with the softest plant down.

Eggs, 2, pure white, blushed with pink while fresh.

The Hummingbirds begin to arrive towards the middle of May, and by the end of the month, when the lilacs are in bloom, they are quite numerous. About that time many pass on to breed farther north, while others engage in the same occupation here.

In September they again become common, showing a strong liking for the impatiens fulva, or wild balsam, which grows abundantly in moist places, and later they crowd about the bignonia or trumpet

creeper.

This is a late flowering plant, and the tiny birds, as if loath to leave it, are seen as late as the middle of September rifling it of its sweets.

There are about sixteen different species of Hummingbirds now known as North American, but this is the only one found east of the Mississippi River. Though small, it is very pugnacious, often attacking birds much larger than itself who may venture near its nest. On such occasions it produces an angry buzzing sound with its wings, but it has no voice save a weak chirp, like a cricket or grasshopper.

ORDER PASSERES. PERCHING BIRDS. SUBORDER CLAMATORES. SONGLESS PERCHING BIRDS. FAMILY TYRANNIDE. TYRANT FLYCATCHERS.

GENUS MILVULUS SWAINSON.

MILVULUS FORFICATUS (GMEL.).

184. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. (443)

First primary alone emarginate; crown patch, orange or scarlet; general color, hoary ash, paler or white below, sides at the insertion of the wings scarlet or blood-red, and other parts of the body tinged with the same, a shade paler; wings, blackish, generally with whitish edgings; tail, black, several outer feathers extensively white or rosy. Wing, about 4; tail, over 12 inches long.

HAB.-Texas and Indian Territory, casually north to Kansas and Missouri; south to Central America. Accidental in Virginia, New Jersey, New England, Manitoba, and at York Factory, Hudson Bay.

Nest, like the Kingbirds'.

Eggs, four or five, white, blotched with reddish and lilac shell-spots.

The home of this beautiful bird is in Texas, but it is evidently much given to wandering, appearing unexpectedly at points far distant from its usual habitat.

The first record I have of its occurrence in Ontario is furnished by Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, Bruce County, who reports having seen one near his place some years ago. He had no means of securing the bird, but saw it by the roadside as he drove past, opening and closing its tail feathers with the usual scissor-like motion.

Dr. Bell, of the Geological Survey, speaking of birds which he occasionally found far from their usual habitat, says: "The most singular discovery in regard to geographical distribution is the finding

KINGBIRD.

259 of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Milvulus forficatus Sw.) at York Factory.

"Hitherto its range has been considered to extend only from Mexico to Central Texas. Baird, Cassin and Lawrence say with regard to it This exquisitely beautiful and graceful bird is quite abundant on the prairies of Southern Texas, and is everywhere conspicuous among its kindred species. It is usually known as the Scissor-tail from its habit of opening and closing the long tail feathers as if they were the blades of a pair of scissors.' The specimen in the Government Museum was shot at York Factory in the summer of 1880, and I have since learned that these remarkable birds were commonly seen at the posts of the Hudson's Bay Company all the way westward to the valley of the Mackenzie River."

The Scissor-tails are beautiful birds which we should gladly welcome to Ontario if they find the attractions sufficient to induce them to extend their habitat in this direction, but of these they are the best judges, and they will no doubt act accordingly.

GENUS TYRANNUS CUVIER.

TYRANNUS TYRANNUS (LINN.).

185. Kingbird. (444)

Two outer primaries obviously attenuate; above, blackish, darker on the head; crown with a flame-colored patch; below, pure white; the breast shaded with plumbeous; wings, dusky, with much whitish edging; tail, black, broadly and rather sharply tipped with white, the outer feathers sometimes edged with the same; bill and feet, black. Young:-Without the patch; very young birds show rufous edging of the wings and tail. Length, about 8 inches; wing, 4; tail, 34; bill, under 1.

HAB.-Eastern North America, from the British Provinces south to Central and South America. Rare west of the Rocky Mountains (Utah, Nevada, Washington Territory, etc.).

Nest, large for the size of the bird, placed on the horizontal bough of an isolated tree, composed of vegetable fibrous materials and sheep's wool compactly woven together.

Eggs, three to five, creamy or rosy-white, spotted and blotched with reddish, brown and lilac shell-spots.

The Kingbird arrives in Ontario from the south about the 10th of May, and from that time till it leaves again in September, it is one of the most familiar birds in the rural districts. It is generally