404 THE POORWILL. 



No. 156. 

 POORWILL. 



A. O. U. No. 418. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (And). 



Description. — Adult: A narrow l)an(l of pure white across throat; below this 

 in abrupt contrast a band of black: under tail-coverts clear creamy buff; the three 

 outer pairs of recfrices tipped broadly with white or buffy white ; remaining 

 plumage an exquisite complex of skeletonized black centers of feathers with buffy 

 and intermingled dusky marginings, the whole producing a frosted or tarnished 

 silvery effect ; black most conspicuously outcrop])ing on back and on center of 

 crown : buff'}- "silvering" most complete on sides of crown, wing-coverts, and 

 upper surfaces of tail-feathers ; black of underparts appearing chiefly as bars 

 where also mingled with pale olivaceous ; flight feathers finely and full)- banded, 

 ochraceous and blackish. Bill black; feet (drying) dark brown; iris brown. 

 Length: 7.00-8.00 (177.8-203.2); wing 5.50 (130.7); tail 3.50 (88.9); tarsus 

 .65 (16.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Strictly Chewink size but appearing larger ; smaller 

 than a Nighthawk, which it superficially rcsenililcs in coloration. Poorii'ill cry 

 heard a hundred times to once the bird is seen. 



Nesting. — Ef/gs: 2 laid upon the bare ground, creamy wdiitc with a faint 

 pinkish tinge, oval to blunt elliptical oval in shape. Aw size, .99 x .75 (25.2 x 19). 

 St'cisoii: c. June ist; one brood. 



General Range. — Breeds from the western ])ortinns of the Great Plains west 

 to the Cascade-Sierra Ranges, north into British Columbia, Alberta, etc.; south in 

 winter thru Mexico to Guatemala. 



Range in Washington. — Not common summer resident in treeless portions 

 of eastern Washington. 



Authorities. — . hitiostoiinis intttaUti Cassin, "Illustrations." (1856) p. 237. 

 C&S. D'. D-\ Ss'. J. 



Specimens. — Prov. C. 



THE sun has set and the last chore is done, all save carrying in the 

 brimful paii of milk, wdiich slowly yields tribute of escaping bubbles to the 

 evening air. Sukey. with a vast sigh of relief, has sunk upon the ground, 

 where, after summoning a consoling cud, she regards her master wonderingly. 

 But the farmer boy is loath to quit the scene and to exchange the wntching 

 twilight for the homely glare of the waiting kerosene; so he lingers on his 

 milk-stool watching the fading light in the western sky and dreaming, as only 

 a boy can dream, of days which are yet to be. Every sense is lulled to rest, 

 and the spirit comes forth to explore the lands beyond the hills, to conquer 

 cities, discover poles, or scale the heights of hea\'en, when suddenly out of the 

 stillness comes the plaintive cry of the Poor-wn'Il. Poor-will poor-will. It is 

 not a disturbing note, but rather the authentic \-oice of silence, the }-earning 



