140 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



ed Night Jar of South America. While the body of this species is but 

 seven inches in length, the outer tail feathers on the male bird attain a 

 length of more than twenty-five inches. The Streamer-bearing Night 

 Jar of South Africa shows the greatest development in the wing feath- 

 ers; the bird is but six inches long, but two of the feathers in each wing 

 of the male often attain the length of twenty inches. Another species 

 has the shaft of a single feather in each wing lengthened to about sev- 

 enteen inches and terminating in a broad web or spatula. 



CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, 



No 416 Aiitrost<niius cMrolineiisis. 



These birds are found in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and 

 north to Virginia and Illinois and west to Kansas. They winter in 

 Southern Florida, Mexico and Central America. 



These are the largest of the family that are found in the L^nited 

 States. They move northward from their winter quarters about the 

 last of March and by the end of April have all reached the places where 

 they are to abide for the summer. They are wholly nocturnal in their 

 habits, and when seen on the wing in daytime, have been disturbed 

 from their slumbers and taken refuge in flight. At such times they ap- 

 pear dazed and bewildered by the strong light and their flight is very 

 weak and erratic. 



As soon as dusk approaches they appear like new birds; they are 

 alert, their eyes are wide open and they are ready to take wing upon 

 the slightest disturbance. They leave the roosting places on limbs or 

 the ground beside logs, where they have been concealed all day, and 

 commence coursing the neighborhood for their supper. Their flight is 

 graceful and noiseless as they skim close to the ground with their cav- 

 ernous mouth open to its widest, to catch any insect that may chance 

 in their path; occasionally they will suddenly deviate from their course 

 to pursue some large moth, or drop to the ground to pick up a beetle. 

 After they have satiated their appetites they perch upon posts or dead 

 limbs and commence to sing. Their song is one of the most mournful, 

 doleful and peculiar efforts made by any bird. It is a rapid repetition 

 of their name, as plainly as it can be uttered in a deep-toned sonorous 

 whistle. During the mating season, the male often utters this note for 

 several minutes with such rapidity that he has to stop for lack oi breath. 

 For several hours nightly, on pleasant evenings, this serenade is heard 

 at intervals, and again, just before daybreak, they make their final ef- 

 forts before retiring to peaceful slumber for the dny. 



