414 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



similar, tlioiigh of a different shade. There is a collar of white on the 

 under side of the neck, posterior to which the upper part of the breast is 

 finely mottled, somewhat as on the top of the head. The belly is dirty 

 white, with indistinct transverse bands and niottUugs of brown. The wings 

 are brown ; each c|uill with a series of round rufous spots on both webs, 

 quite conspicuous on the outer side of the primaries when the wings are 

 folded. The terminal half of the outer three tail-feathers is of a dirty white. 



The female is smaller ; the collar on the throat is tinged with fidvous. 

 The conspicuous white patch of the tail is wanting, the tips only of the 

 outer three feathers being of a pale brownish-fulvous. 



Mexican and Guatemalan specimens are identical with those from the 

 United States. 



H.\BITS. The well-known "WliippoorwiU has an extended range tlirough- 

 oiit the eastern portion of North America, from the Atlantic to the valley 

 of the Missouri, and from Southern Florida to about the 50th parallel of 

 north latitude. Dr. Eichardson observed this bird on the northern shores 

 of Lake Huron, but did not meet with it at any point farther north. It is 

 found throughout New England and in portions of New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia, but is rare in the latter places, and is not common in the \dcin- 

 ity of Calais. It breeds from Florida northward. It has not been found as 

 far west as Texas. It was noticed by Mr. Say at Pembina. It is given by 

 Dr. Hall, of IMontreal, as common in that neighborhood, and by ilr. Mcll- 

 wraith as an abundant summer resident armmd Hamilton, Canada. Dr. 

 Lerabeye names it as a resident Cuban species, and Dr. Gundlach informed 

 me that he had taken its eggs within that island. I have also received its 

 eggs from various portions of Florida. 



The WliippoorwiU is nowhere a resident species in any portion of the 

 United States. They make their appearance in the Southern States early 

 in ]\Iarch, and very gradually proceed northward, entering Pennsylvania 

 early in AprU, but not being seen in New York or New England until the 

 last of that month, and sometimes not until the 10th of ^lay. ]\Ir. !Maynanl 

 mentions their first appearance in JMassachusetts as from the 19th to the 

 24t]i of May, but I have repeatedly known them in full cry near Boston at 

 least a fortnight earlier than this, and in the western part of the State ilr. 

 Allen has noted their arrival by the 2.;jth of April They leave in the lat- 

 ter part of September. j\Ir. Allen also observed the abundant presence of 

 these birds in Western Iowa, wliere he heard their notes as late as the 20th 

 of September. 



In its habits the WliippoorwiU is very nearly the counterpart of the 

 carolinensis. Like that bird, it is exclusively nocturnal, keeping, during the 

 day, closely within the recesses of dark woods, and remaining perfectly 

 silent, uttering no note even when disturbed in these retreats. In very 

 cloudy weather, late in the day, these birds may be seen hunting for insects, 

 but this is not usual, and they utter no sound until it is quite dark. 



