NIGHTHAWK AND WHIP-POOR-WILL 61 
The confusion of the two birds is widespread, 
in spite of Audubon’s testimony that he had sel- 
dom seen a farmer or even a boy in the United 
States who did not know the difference between 
them. But, while they resemble each other 
closely, they are sufficiently unlike to be classi- 
fied not only as separate species, but as species 
of different genera. As for the difference in 
their habits, it is such as any one may see and 
appreciate. The nighthawk, for all its name, is 
not a night bird. It is most active at twilight, 
—Jin other words, it is crepuscular instead of 
nocturnal, — but is often to be seen flying abroad 
at midday. The whip-poor-will, on the contrary, 
is quiet till after dark. Then it starts into full- 
ness of life, singing with the utmost enthusiasm, 
till the listener wonders where it can find breath 
for such rapid and long-continued efforts. The 
nighthawk is not a musician. While flying it 
frequently utters a single note, of a guttural- 
nasal quality, almost indistinguishable from the 
so-called bleat of the woodcock; but, in place of 
singing, it indulges in a fine aerial tumbling per- 
formance, much in the manner of the snipe. 
This performance I have many times observed 
in early summer from the Public Garden in Bos- 
ton. Ihave seen it also in September, though 
it is doubtless much less common at that season. 
