CAPRIMULGID^ — THE aOATSUCKERS. 4^5 



Like the preceding species, this bird receives its common name of Whip- 

 poorwill from its nocturnal cry, which has some slight resemblance to these 

 three sounds ; but the cry is so rapidly enunciated and so incessantly re- 

 peated that a fertile imagination may give various interpretations to the 

 sounds. They are never uttered -svhen the bird is in motion, but usually at 

 short intervals, when resting on a fence, or bush, or any other object near tlie 

 ground. 



Tlieir flight is noiseless to an incredible degree, and the}- rarely Hy far at 

 a time. Tliey are usually very shy, and are easily startled if approached. 

 At night, as soon as the twilight disajipears, these birds issue from their re- 

 treats, and fly out into more open spaces in quest of their favorite food. 

 As many of the nocturnal insects, moths, beetles, and others, are attracted 

 about dwellings by lights, the Whippoorwill is frequenth' enticed, in pur- 

 suit, into the same vicinity. For several successive seasons these birds liave 

 appeared nearly every summer evening within my grounds, often witliin a 

 few feet of the house. They never suffer a very near ajiproach, but fly as 

 soon as they notice any movement. Their pursuit of insects is somewhat 

 different from that narrated of the preceding species, their flights being 

 usually quite brief, without any perceptible sailing, and more in the manner 

 of Flycatchers. Their song is given out at iuter\-als throughout tlie night, 

 until near the dawn. 



The nocturnal habits of this bird have prevented a general or accurate 

 knowledge of its true character. Strange as it may seem, in many parts 

 of the country the Xight-Hawk and the Whippoorwill are supposed to be 

 one and the same bird, even by those not iU informed in other respect-s. 

 This was found to be the case in Pennsyhania liy Wilson, and is equally 

 true of manj' portions of New England, though disputed by !Mr. Audubon. 



Like the Chuck-will's Widow, this species removes its eggs, and also its 

 young, to a distant and safer locality, if they are visited and handled. Wil- 

 son once, in passing through a piece of wood, came accidentally upon a 

 young bii'd of this species. The parent attempted to draw Mm away by 

 well-feigned stratagems. Wilson stopped and sketched the bird, and, return- 

 ing again, after a short aljsence, to the same place, in search of a pencil he 

 had left behind, found tliat the bird had been spirited away by its vigilant 

 parent. 



AYhen disturbed by an intrusive approach, the Whippoorwill resorts to 

 various expedients to divert attention to herself from her offspring. She 

 flutters about as if wounded and unable to fly, beats tlie ground with her 

 wings as if not able to rise from it, and enacts these feints in a manner to 

 deceive even the most wary, risking her own life to save her offspring. 



The Whippoorwills construct no nest, but deposit their eggs in the thick- 

 est and most shady portions of the woods, among fallen leaves, in hollows 

 slightly excavated for that purpose, or ujion tlie leaves themselves. For 

 this purpose elevated and dry places are always selected, often near some 



