The Whip-poor-will 



215 



My companion quickly descended the rock toward the eggs, set up his 5 x 7 

 camera on a tripod, took a picture of the eggs — I cannot say nest, then draped 

 the camera with sassafras leaves, set it, and came away, carrying with him the 

 bulb, attached to tubing 25 feet long. Then we crouched behind the stair- 

 case and awaited proceedings. 



Would the Whip-poor-will venture down from her perch, we wondered, with 

 that fierce machine staring at her, 26 inches from her brooding-place? 



wnir-i'(H)k u iij. i.kooi.iN^, 



Though we tried to conceal ourselves behind the rock, her eye was upon us, 

 and though she did not tly to safer distance, neither did she Ijudge an inch 

 from her location. 



We dropped the bulb where we were so insufliciently concealing (?) our- 

 selves, and strolled to the ledge where we had lingered the previous evening. 

 Immediately we were settled, in recuml)eiit and ap|)areiitly unconcerned posi- 

 tions, the Whip-poor-will Hew back lo her nest. 



I'ully twenty minutes after her interru|)tion, my com|)anion stealthily 

 stole u]) the 'back stairs' again, bulb in hand, antl ])eering, with glasses, over 

 the edge, s|)otted her and sna|)ped. Once, twice, the click resounded 1 could 



