WHIP-POOR-WILL 187 



to be in a violent tremble. The male in the 

 mean time had sidled up to her and touched her 

 bill with his, which made her move slightly to one 

 side : . . . the female acted as timid and bashful 

 as many young maidens would when receiving 

 the first declarations of their would-be lovers, 

 while the lowering of her head might easily be 

 interpreted as being done to hide her blushes." 



The Whip-poor-will lays its eggs on the ground 

 or leaves. The mother bird shows great distress 

 if disturbed when young are in the nest. A cor- 

 respondent of Major Bendire's says that she 

 "flies or rather flops about the intruder in a circle, 

 often alighting to tumble about upon the ground 

 among the leaves, spreading the tail and opening 

 the mouth, at the same time emitting a sound 

 something like the cry or whine of a very young 

 puppy, and also other guttural, uncouth sounds, 

 wholly indescribable, the young themselves, in 

 their scanty dress of dark yellow fuzz, apparently 

 all mouth, adding to the general effect." Besides 

 being very interesting birds. Doctor Fisher says 

 that they are most useful, eating ants, grasshop- 

 pers, June bugs, and potato bugs. 



