136 BIRDS 



The daylight-feeding habits of the Bull Bats and their 

 habit of collecting in flocks late in the evening also are 

 traits not observed in the Whip-poor-will. 



The Night-hawk, or Bull Bat, is a poor percher, 

 owing to the shape of its feet. As with closed eyes and 

 feather-hidden beak it sits lengthwise of the perch, it 

 presents a sphynx-like appearance. 



In almost any locality, at certain seasons, on a 

 cloudy evening, flocks of these birds can be found darting 

 after their flying food; they are the original animated 

 head-divers. During the mating season many may be 

 observed circling high in the air; and occasionally from 

 no discernible motive one may be seen to take a headlong 

 dive toward the earth at such a rapid and reckless speed 

 that you fear for the safety of the bird, but it glides 

 gracefully in a beautiful curve upward and takes its 

 place among its companions whirling high above it. 



As a boy, I remember many a fruitless chase after 

 this bird, as it fluttered from its eggs in a most helpless 

 and pathetic endeavor to escape being trampled upon. 

 The race usually resulted in leading me away from the 

 eggs or young and always in the bird's suddenly recover- 

 ing from the feigned helpless condition and taking refuge 

 in a flight to safety, much to my surprise and disappoint- 

 ment. 



The photograph in this collection is of that pale sub- 

 species known as the Sennett's Night-hawk, found in 

 the open prairie sections of the central United States. 

 (Fig. 66.) 



1 had been longing for a chance to make a good pic- 

 ture of this bird and had about abandoned all hope, when 

 early one morning Mrs. Cordier, looking from her bed- 

 room window, discovered a bird sitting the long way of 

 a metal down-spout on the porch roof, within ten feet 

 of the pane. She called my attention to it and within 

 ten minutes I was busily engaged in taking the Night- 

 hawk's picture. It was the most artistic piece of bird- 

 repose posing I have ever seen. It rested in this position 

 from seven a. m. until half after five, and during that time 

 I made one dozen good negatives. As twilight approached 

 and the glare of the sun diminished, the sleeping bird 

 slowly opened its eyes, gently ruffled its feathers, spread 

 its fluffy wings and noiselessly took its departure to join 



