418 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Dr. Cooi^er did not meet with this bird in the Colorado Valley, but he 

 heard their nocturnal call, which he says sounds like poor-ivill, on the barren 

 mountains west of the valley, in May. He has never seen or heard any 

 west of the Coast Range, nor in the Santa Clara Valley in the spring. They 

 are, however, said to be common in the hot interior valleys, and remain near 

 San Francisco as late as November, usually hiding on the ground, and fly- 

 ing at dusk in short, fitful courses in pursuit of insects. Dr. Cooper adds 

 that they inhabit the almost bare and barren sage-plains east of the Sierra 

 Nevada, wliere their rather sad whistle is heard all night during the spring, 

 sounding like an echoing answer to the cry of the eastern species. 



Dr. Suckley, in the Report on the Zoology of Washington Territory, speaks 

 of this species as moderately abundant in the interior of that Territory, as 

 well as of Oregon. East of the Cascade Mountains, at Fort Dalles, they can 

 be heard on almost any fine night in spring or early summer. Their cries 

 closely resemble those of the vociferus, but are more feeble, and not so inces- 

 santly kept up. Dr. Cooper, in the same report, also speaks of finding this 

 bird common near the Yakima River, in 1853. Two specimens were killed 

 in the daytime by a whip. Late in the evening he found them flying near 

 the ground. Dr. Woodhouse, in passing down the Little Colorado River, in 

 New Mexico, found this bird quite abundant, as also among the San Fran- 

 cisco Mountains. 



Dr. Newberry met with this species in all the parts of California and 

 Oregon visited by him. Near the shores of Rhett Lake he met with its 

 nest containing two young nearly ready to fly. The old bird fluttered off as 

 if disabled, and by her cries and strange movements induced one of the party 

 to pursue her. The young resembled those of the eastern species, were of a 

 gray-brown color, marbled with black, and had large, dark, and soft eyes. 

 They were quite passive when caught. 



This species was observed by Mr. J. H. Clark near Rio Mimbres, in New 

 Mexico. From the manner in which it flew, it seemed so similar to the 

 Woodcock that until a specimen was obtained it was supposed to belong to 

 that family. He saw none east of the Rio Grande, but met with it as far west 

 as Santa Cruz. It was nowhere abundant, and was generally solitary. It 

 was found usually among the tall grass of the valleys, and occasionally on the 

 plains. It was only once observed to alight upon a bush, but almost invaria- 

 bly, when started up, it flew down again among the grass at a short distance. 



A single specimen of this bird was taken by Dr. Kennerly on the Great 

 Colorado River. Dr. Heermann met with two specimens among the moun- 

 tains bordering the Tejon A^alley, and lie was informed by Dr. Milhau that a 

 small species of Whippoorwill was abundant round that fort in the spring 

 and summer. 



Dr. Heermann killed one of these birds on the Medina, in Texas ; and 

 during the summer, passing along Devil's River, he heard their notes every 

 evening, and judged that the birds were abundant. Mr. Dresser obtained a 



