ORXITIIOLOGY 



'THEY SLEPT FOR THEIR PORTRAIT." 



gradually worked up to about three or 

 four feet. The bird appeared to be 

 asleep at first, but during the last part 

 of our operations it was very much 

 awake and watched us intently with 

 one big eye, for up to this time the only 

 motion it had made was to open its 

 eyes. Even when a brier was cut away 

 within a few inches there was no mo- 

 tion except a rapid quivering of the 

 throat which perhaps indicated anx- 

 iety. 



The bird did not stir until I almost 

 touched it with my hand. Then it lift- 

 ed its wings to their widest extent, ruf- 

 fled its feathers, spread its tail and 

 danced just over the edge of the tri- 

 angle where it immediately settled it- 

 self as quiet as ever within eighteen 

 inches of the eggs. This action was 

 accompanied with a slight hissing 

 noise which came from the wide open 

 mouth of the bird. 



We had taken five time exposures, 

 and it would seem as if the bird had 

 been bothered enough for one day but 

 we wished to get a picture of the open 

 wings, so I went around on the other 

 side and drove the bird back into the 

 home lot. wdiere we left it actually on 

 the eggs after this trying experience 

 of a full hour with tliree large men, by 

 whom it was at times quite surrounded, 

 to say nothing of the camera and its 

 evil eye. 



Elsie was the first to discover that 

 the little birds were hatched, and that 

 they showed symptoms of Wanderlust 

 almost before their down was dry. 

 Thinking they would be at home at 

 daybreak, I was on the spot early the 

 next morning and found them. In 

 my pocket they were treated to a bicy- 



cle ride to the photographer's studio, 

 where they slept for their portrait. 

 Another ride home and their faithful 

 father was waiting for them. I say 

 father, for the white throat patch plain- 

 ly indicated the male bird. 



About two weeks later the young 

 birds, now well feathered, went to the 

 photographer's again and one was 

 photographed in my hand to show its 

 strong foot. At this time they ran 

 swiftly with that peculiar directness 

 which is characteristic of young sand- 

 pipers. 



Nighthawks are not so entirely noc- 

 turnal in their habits as whippoorwills, 

 which are rarely seen moving in the 

 daytime. In June nighthawks may be 

 seen or heard at almost any time ex- 

 cept from dawn till noon, and the ex- 

 planation is, I believe, quite simple. 

 The females fly afternoons and the 

 males all night. Such was the case in 



TWO WEEKS OLD. 



