^THE i OOLOGIST, 



^3 



VOL. VII. 



ALBION N. Y., AUG, 1890. 



Xo. 8 



The Caprimulgidae In Arkansas. 



The Goatsuckers, like some of the 

 Herons, are provided with a tootlied 

 comlj on the middle toe, by Avliirli they 

 are en:Ujled to rid themsehes of a cer- 

 tain portion of their parasitic adherents 

 or obnoxious matter, and smootli the 

 feathers. 



There are three species known to 

 occur in this locality, of Avhicii, per- 

 haps, tlic Night Hawk is the most 

 widely distributed and best known of 

 any of the family. It is rare here, 

 however, and does not breed that I can 

 discover. It has only been seen during 

 the migrations, and not kno\vn to 

 alight. Its only note, known to me, 

 (best produced by speaking the word 

 "beard" in a whisper), is uttered as it 

 wends its zigzag way through the air 

 overhead. 



The Whip-poor-will is next in order 

 ■of Avide distribution and general 

 abundance. His clear, musical voice, 

 (whence the name), may be heard on 

 any still night from the earlj' part of 

 April till July. Then, like most other 

 birds, his merry song ceases as he 

 becomes settled in life, and the family 

 i-ares appear. He is sflent, except now 

 and then a few occasional notes to 

 •cheer his mate. In the eai'lier part of 

 the season they keep the foi'ests ring- 

 ing with the sweetest melody, throug- 

 out the night, and, as one after anotlier. 

 joins in, at dusk, from different hill 

 sides and ravines, it is truly a concert 

 well wortii hearing. Distance and 

 location lend variation to the sound, 

 and as the voices chime in, down some 

 deep ravine, it reminds one of an 

 orchestra in some great hall, and is 

 particularly fascinating to him that 

 hears it for the first time. 



A dozen or more maj" be in hearing 



at once, and as one quits off, another 

 takes il up, and so the word is passed 

 down the hollow till it dies away in the 

 distance, to be ivj)eated o'er and o'er. 

 At other times it is a perfect medley of 

 song; or, a single bird may be so near 

 as to completely deaden the other 

 sounds, and may keep it up for hours 

 witli scarcely an intermission. At such 

 times, especially when one is taking his 

 inoruing nap, it is quite unpleasant to 

 be suddenly awakened by one of these 

 planting itself near the house, or even 

 in the door yard, to wind up its morn- 

 ing song. It is u.seless to try to sleep, 

 and unless yon frighten it away, you 

 may wear your patience out waiting. 



When rendered so near, its voice is 

 loud and lacks that charming l)rilliancy 

 so fascinating. 



Often, when whistling, they seem to 

 get excited, or in a hurry, and repeat 

 the words very rapidly for a time. In 

 singing, the head is thrown far back 

 and the throat much dilated. They 

 perch either on the ground, a rock, log 

 or hoi'izontal limb, and as a rule, sit 

 lengthwise with the object on which 

 they light. Their chief resort is the 

 rocky ravines (jf the mountains. Thej- 

 are seldom seen in daylight and then 

 only as they dart away in obscurity. 

 The eggs are two in number, and too 

 well described in Davie's work to justi- 

 fy an attempt here. 



Occasionally, one can be called up by 

 mimicrj', and when heard so near there 

 is a peculiar sound made before the 

 first .syllalde, which resembles a noise 

 made by the Ground Squirrel, as if it 

 were a smack of the lij)s when the 

 mouth is opened to utter the notes. 

 This sound is .synonymous to the first 

 note, (chuck), of the Chuck- Wills- 

 Widow, but is much weaker. 



The Whip-poor-will arrived on the 

 last day of March, and since that time I 



