204 BULIiETIN 176, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



On several occasions, Mr. Burrows (Bendire, 1895) observed a 

 pauraque "perched upon the extremity of a low, dead limb, or on 

 the top of a bush. At these times I found that the bird w^as watch- 

 ing for food, and at intervals would leave the perch, dart off a short 

 distance as if in pursuit of an insect, and as quickly return, in very 

 much the same manner that the Whip-poor-will is accustomed to 

 do. I believe that these birds are strictly insectivorous; but I have 

 never made an examination of the stomach except in one instance. 

 The stomach of this bird, killed in January, showed parts of the 

 feet and wings of beetles and other insects." 



Three stomachs examined by Cottam and Knappen (1939) con- 

 tained parts of ant lions, stink bugs, soldier bugs, locusts, click 

 beetles, tiger beetles, ostomid beetles, twig borer, carrot muck beetle, 

 long-horned beetles, and traces of butterflies, moths, bees, or wasps. 

 Beetles made up 89 percent of the whole food. 



Behavior. — Mr. Burrows (Bendire, 1895) writes: 



During the daytime the birds were commonly found on the ground at the 

 foot of a growth of bushes or among fallen branches, and I have occasionally 

 found them perched, nighthawk-fashion, upon a low branch not more than a 

 foot from the ground. When closely approached, they dart quickly forward 

 in a zigzag course, dropping as suddenly to the ground. This flight is short, 

 usually not more than 50 or 60 feet, and when settled they commonly remain 

 perfectly quiet until again flushed. They have a peculiar way of turning or 

 facing about as they strike the ground, so that they can better watch 

 the approaching danger. They lie so close that it is with great difficulty 

 that they can be detected, unless the spot is carefully marked. In a number 

 of instances, where the bird seemed to feel that it was observed, I have had 

 them go through a peculiar bowing movement, resembling that of the Burrow- 

 ing Owl, except that the body is raised from its completely prostrate condition. 



The pauraque has a relatively longer tarsus than our other mem- 

 bers of the goatsucker family; hence it is more active on its feet. 

 Dr. Frank M. Chapman (1896) observes: "I was surprised to learn 

 how rapidly these birds can run. On one occasion two lit within a 

 few feet of me when it was light enough to distinguish their move- 

 ments. They crouched close to the earth, sometimes running quickly 

 and with unexpected ease for a few steps, then turned their heads 

 sharply from side to side as though looking for insects. They would 

 also spring suddenly fifteen feet into the air to catch a passing 

 insect." 



Voice. — Dr. Merrill (1878) writes: "Their notes are among the 

 most characteristic night sounds of the Lower Rio Grande, and are 

 constantly heard at evening during the summer months. They con- 

 sist of a repeated whistle resembling the syllables whew-whew-whew- 

 wJiew-whe-e-e-e-e-w^ much stress being laid upon the last, which is 

 prolonged. The whole is soft and mellow, yet can be heard at a 



