NIGHTHAWK 213 



common sight over the streets of Boston and New York, and 

 its harsh peent is a common sound. Outside the cities it 

 breeds on rocky hillsides, or in wild pastures, laying its 



Fig. 63. Wing of Nighthawk 



two eggs on flat rocks or bare spots where their speckles of 

 gray or brown harmonize with the surrounding stones and 

 lichens. In the breeding season the male dives down from 

 a considerable height, and as he nears the ground turns off 

 and up in an abrupt curve ; at the same time he manages 

 to produce, probably with his wings, a loud and peculiar 

 booming sound. The neighborhood of water attracts Night- 

 hawks, as it does the swallows, and doubtless for the same 

 reason. They may be seen hawking high over the river 

 valleys, their long wings carrying them forward with ap- 

 parent deliberation, though constant, quick upward strokes, 

 or rapid turns to either side, betray the ceaseless search 

 for insect food. Their size, when thus feeding, distin- 

 guishes them from any swallow and from the Swift ; they 

 are often taken for small hawks, but they may be always 

 recognized by the bar of white across the icing, which 

 shows best from below. Occasionally one may be seen 

 perched lengthwise along a limb or a fence-rail. (See fol- 

 lowing species.) *► 



Whip-poor-will. Antrostonius vociferus 



9.75 



Ad. $ . — Upper parts a mixture of black, gray, and yellowish- 

 brown, no white • wings barred with black and yellowish-brown ; 

 throat black ; upper breast black, crossed by a narrow white 



