CLASS AVES. 



167 



FIR. 283. 



The Night-hawk* notwithstanding its popular name, 

 retires to rest at the close 

 of twilight, when it can 

 no longer discern its in- 

 sect prey.f Its sharp 

 squeak is occasionally 

 varied by a loud, boom- 

 ing sound, emitted when 

 its downward flight is 

 arrested during a swoop 



**"*'* *"*** 



CM 



FIG. 284. 



near the surface of the 

 earth. J Its two eggs are usually laid on a rock, or some 

 place exposed to the sun, without any nest, though the 



mother broods them assid- 

 uously, fluttering away, 

 when alarmed, as though 

 wounded. If disturbed, it 

 will, like the Whip-poor-will, 

 carry off the eggs or young 

 in its capacious mouth to 

 another locality. The 

 Whip-poor-will is silent dur- 

 ing the clay. The exceed- 

 ingly sensitive bristles, lining each side of the upper 

 mandible, are of use in directing the swiftly-flying insect 



* The Night-hawk and Whip-poor-will are commonly believed to be identical. 

 They are really, however, distinct not only in color markings, but also generically, 

 thus: 



GAPE WITHOUT BRISTLES. Tail narrow, forked. Night-hawk. 



GAPE WITH BRISTLES. Tail broad, roiinded. Whip-poor-will. 



The Chuck-will's-widow of the South is larger than the Whip-poor-will, and has 

 bristles with lateral filaments. 



t Its singular habit of perching lengthwise on a limb or rail is well known ; 

 but in confinement it often perches across a finger, or the back of a chair. 



t The former sound is produced by its vocal organs; the latter is thought to 

 be by a quick, vibrating motion of the wings. 



An trbs' to mus vo cif e rus. 

 Whip-poor-will. (!.) 



