154 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



fascination. But our smaller bird is not without 

 its own charm, and may suggest the voice of a 

 child, when after dark and in the night, never 

 by day, its love-call is heard. 



The bird is rare in the Willamette Valley and 

 around Puget Sound, but grows more common 

 as we move east, till across the Cascade Moun- 

 tains it may be heard any fine night in May and 

 June, and later. Its habits are not so well 

 known as those of its eastern relatives. But it 

 would not be strange, if it too, when its nest was 

 disturbed by man, should safely carry off either 

 eggs or young to some more secluded spot. 

 This bird is found as much in open prairies and 

 in barren arid land of the interior, as in woods. 

 It nests in high altitudes, where there is frost 

 every night, and also in regions of tropical 

 temperature. It makes no nest, but lays two 

 eggs upon the bare ground or upon rocks. 



Captain Charles Bendire, an army officer, who 

 has contributed more than any one hitherto, to 

 a knowledge of the birds of Oregon, has de- 

 scribed the love-call of the Poorwill as " Puih- 

 wee-ee," — the last syllable being almost in- 

 audible. 



