THE MUSEUM. 



7 



there are distin<^uishing points. With 

 the prospect of givinj^ offense to ad- 

 vanced collectors by occupN'ing^ your 

 space, I will beg pardon and point out 

 two characteristic marks by which the 

 two species may be identified. 



In the Whippoorwill we find a row 

 of long stiff bristles growing from the 

 edges of the upper mandible. The 

 Nighthawk has no bristles or hairs 

 growing from its mouth, but has an 

 dentifying mark in the shape of a 

 white stripe or spot on the underside 

 of the wing. This mark can be seen 

 when the bird is flying. But in spite 

 of the difference in the two birds, so 

 often confounded, many agriculturalists 

 will assure you that the two species arc 

 one and the same bird. 



This mysterious crepuscular species 

 arrives in Southern Michigan about 

 April 20th. It is occasionally seen bv 

 the middle of the month, but oftener 

 is not observed until after May first. 

 Carefully concealed in the thick, little 

 frequented forests, the Whip-poor-will 

 is often overlooked during the hrst two 

 weeks of its stay, for it is onh' after 

 the birds have arrived in numbers and 

 begin to sing at twilight that their pres- 

 ence is noted by the average observer. 

 If the weather remains chillv in earlv 



May these night-singers are sometimes, 

 not heard till the tenth of the month. 



In the latter part of May, some- 

 times in early June the eggs are laid. 

 One instance is brought to my recol- 

 lection where the eggs were found on 

 May i/th, but this was remarkably 

 early and unusual. I have found three 

 complete sets of eggs in as many coun- 

 ties in this state, and one ^d^g at an- 

 other time, and also the young birds in 

 two instances. 



There are very few, if any species of 

 bird who make as little preparation for 

 the eggs as the subject of this sketch. 

 A nesting site is selected, usually among 

 the bushes in a forest, the old bird de- 

 posits the two eggs side by side in a 

 little hollow. Always in my exper- 

 ience, the ground was covered with a 

 carpeting of dead leaves of the 

 previous season, and the slight hallow 

 was therefore ready lined. Someone 

 has said that the birds scratched the 

 hollow for the eggs, but this is probab- 

 ly not the case. From careful obser- 

 vations of the hollow and the immed- 

 iate surroundings, I am satisfied that 

 not a leaf is disturbed. 



The following cut gives an accurate, 

 view of one nest and two eggs. 



