THE NIGHTHAWK 



Mr. Forbush claims that the nighthawk "ranks next to the 

 flicker in the destruction of ants, and it takes them when 

 they are flying and about to propagate." ^ 



It has a fondness for fireflies, also. Dr. Herrick made 

 careful observation of the habits of nighthawks, and the 

 manner of feeding their young. He writes of seeing a 

 mother-bird "loaded with fireflies." He says: "As her 

 great mouth opened you beheld wide jaws and throat 

 brilliantly illuminated like a spacious apartment all aglow 

 with electricity. She made an electrical display at every 

 utterance of her harsh ke-ark. Then standing over her 

 young, with raised and quivering wings, she put her bill 

 down into his throat and pumped him full. She then 

 tucked the little one under her breast and began to brood. 

 She repeated the performance, after which she settled 

 down to brood as if for the night. "This young bird 

 was fed but twice each evening between the hours of 

 eight and nine o'clock, and always, as I believe, by the 

 female. It is quite probable that another feeding occurs 

 also at dawn. The male would sometimes swoop down 

 and once he sat by the chick for ten minutes after dusk. 

 The task of feeding was borne by the mother.' 



9> 4 



8 "Useful Birds and Their Protection," E. H. Forbush, page 342. 



*From "The Home Life of Wild Birds," by Francis H. Herrick; used 

 with the permission of the author and his publisher, the G. P. Putnam's 

 Sons. 



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