Chætura (pelagica var. ?) vauxi, (Towns.) DeKay.
OREGON CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Cypselus vauxi, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc. VIII, 1839, 148 (Columbia River).—Ib. Narrative, 1839. Chætura vauxi, DeKay, N. Y. Zoöl. II, 1844, 36.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 145, pl. xviii.—Sclater, Cat. 282.—Ib. P. Z. S. 1863, 100 (Guatemala).—Kennerly, P. R. R. x, b, pl. xviii, f. 2.—Cooper & Suckley, 165.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 351. Acanthylis vauxi, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854; notes Delattre, 90.—Cassin, Ill. I, 1855, 250.—Newberry, Zoöl. Cal. and Or. Route, 78; P. R. R. Surv. VI, 1857.
Sp. Char. Light sooty-brown; rump and under parts paler; lightest on the chin and throat. Length, 4.50; wing, 4.75; tail, 1.90.
Hab. Pacific coast, from Puget’s Sound to California. West coast to Guatemala (Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, 100); Yucatan (Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. IX, 204).
This species bears a very close resemblance to the common Chimney Swallow of the Eastern States, being only readily distinguishable by its much smaller size, 4.50 inches instead of 5.25. The wing, too, is nearly an inch shorter. The tarsus and the middle toe, however, seem absolutely longer. The rump is a little paler than in C. pelagica, as well as the under parts, where the chin and throat are lighter, almost dirty white, and gradually becoming a little darker behind, although even the hinder part of the belly is much lighter than the back, even in strong contrast, instead of being of the same color with it. Guatemalan specimens are much darker.
Habits. This western Swift was first discovered by Mr. Townsend on the Columbia River, where he found it having the primitive habits of the eastern species, and breeding in hollow trees, forming a nest in a similar manner, and laying four pure-white eggs. It differs from the common bird in its smaller size and lighter color. It is said to occur from Puget Sound to California.
Dr. Cooper met with these birds May 4, 1864, in the Coast Range, twelve miles south of Santa Clara. He was of the opinion that they had nests in hollow trees at the summit of the mountains, but he was not able to find any. He did not observe any at Fort Vancouver in the summer of 1853, nor did he learn whether these birds are found in the central valleys of California. In 1866 they were observed to make their first appearance at Santa Cruz on the 4th of May, though as they rarely descended to the town they might have been on the hills earlier than this. On the 5th of October he observed five of them, in company with a large flock of Hirundo bicolor, spending the morning in hunting insects near the town. They were apparently delayed in their migration southward by a thick fog and cold south-wind. They may have been a late brood from the north.
Dr. Kennerly obtained a single specimen of this species at the Straits of Fuca, showing that these birds sometimes extend their migrations up to the 49th parallel. Neither Dr. Suckley nor Dr. Cooper was able to find this Swift anywhere in Washington Territory.
Dr. Newberry observed this species quite common in California, but could obtain no specimens, owing to the height at which they flew. He saw nothing of it in Oregon.