3()8 BIROS OP ILLINOIS. 



rrtmarioa dusky, npottod with oehrncooiiB nifouA. Deiu-ath, mottled RrayiBh.brown.nnd 

 burr, vorniiciilati'd will) bliirk.tho lower purt of tlif lliroiit crooiii'd by n bur of white or 

 oehruoeuiiH. Adiill male Tttil-f<'<ithcri) (I'Xeopt iniildle piilrl with teniiliiiil third (ap- 

 proxiuiatolyl of both webH white. Adult /rtnali: Tiill without any white, but three outer 

 rectrlces tipped with buff or ochrnceouH. WIuk. 6.20-«.7(i: tall. 6.10-6.50. 



Although so well known l;y its familiar nocturnal song, the Wiiip- 

 poor-will is a birti that comparatively few people have seen. This 

 is accounted for by its strictly nocturnal habits. Its flight, says Dr. 

 Brewer (Hist. N. Am. B. Vol. II., p. 115), "is noiseless to an incredible 

 degree," and is by no means protracted. "They are usually very 

 shy, and are easily startled if approached. At night, as soon as the 

 twihglit disappears, these birds issue from their retreats, and lly out 

 into more open spaces in quest of their favorite food. As many of 

 the nocturnal insects, moths, beetles, and others, are attracted about 

 dwelhngs by lights, the Whip-poor-will is frequently enticed, in 

 pursuit, into the same vicinity. I'or several successive seasons these 

 birds have appeared nearly every evening within my grounds, often 

 witliin a few feet of the house. They never suffer a vei7 near ap- 

 proach, but dy as soon as they notice any movement. Their pur- 

 suit of insects is somewhat different from that narrated of the pre- 

 ceiUiig species, their thghts being usually quite brief, without any 

 perceptible sailing, and more in the manner of Flycatchers. Their 

 song is given out at mtervals throughout the night, until near the 

 dawn. 



"The nocturnal habits of this bird have prevented a general or 

 accurate knowledge of its true character. Strange as it may seem, 

 in many parts of the country the Night-IIawk and the Whip-poor- 

 will are supposed to be one and the same bird, even by those not 

 ill-mlormed in other respects." 



Genus CHORDEILES Swainson. 



Vhovdeilea Swainson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. 11,1831,337. Type, (.'aprimulvus riroiniamm 



Gmel,. 



Gen. Chaii. 15111 BmuU. the nostrils depressed; the supo with feeble, Inconspicuous 



bristles. WlnKS loiiK, narrow, and pointed, the first quill nearly or uuili' equal to tlio 



Bocoud. Tall rather narrow, sUnlilly forked: pluniiiKi' quite eonipaet. Habil.s diuriud or 



crepuscular. 



■Many species of this gemis belong to America, although but two 

 that are well chaiucterized enter into the fauna of the United States. 

 These are easily distinguished as follows : 



1. C. virpinianuB. Outer web.« of primaries without oehraeeous spots; white patch 

 on priniariea cxtoudiut,' over live outer quiils.auterlor to their middle portion. 



