342 



SHRIEKING BIRDS— STRISORES. 



I did not myself meet with this Ijird ia the Colorado Valley, where, how- 

 ever, Dr. Kennerly obtained one on February 23, 1854, indicating that they 

 may perhaps winter there. I heard their call of " poor-will " on the barren 

 mountains west of the valley in ]\lay, but have neither heard nor seen any 

 west of the Coast Eange, nor in the Santa Clara Valley in spring, though 

 their habits of concealment during the day might lead to mistakes as to their 



real occurrence. They are, however, common in the hot interior valleys, 

 and remain near San Francisco as late as November, hiding usually on the 

 ground under a low bush or tuft of grass, and flying at dusk in short fitful 

 courses in pursuit of insects. They inhabit the almost bare and barren 

 " Sage-plains," east of the Sierra Nevada, and their rather sad whistle is 

 heard all night during sprmg, like an echoing answer to the cry of their 

 cousins, the Eastern " whip-poor-will." 



Their eggs are probably laid on the ground. 



C. popetue- 



