138 THE Birps Asout Us. 
CHAP TE Rey. 
THE GOATSUCKERS, ETC. 
ND what now of that curious bird the Whip- 
poorwill? It is migratory, and the Delaware 
Indians said it was not safe to plant corn in the Dela- 
ware Valley until these birds had arrived; after that 
there would be no frost. And so now it is thor- 
oughly delightful to hear for the first time, early in 
May, the song or cry of this bird, feeling assured 
that there will be no more frost. Without any inti- 
mation of its coming, as if it had dropped from the 
clouds, this bird finds a secluded nook in the wood- 
lands, and while it is yet day sits as motionless as 
the lichen-patches that it so much resembles; but as 
the sun goes down and the dim uncertain light of 
the gloaming prevails, the bird is roused to activity, 
and then it is, calls out with ceaseless repetition whzp- 
poor-will, whip-poor-will, A pleasant sound at first, 
but as the summer wears away becomes intolerably 
monotonous. 
The whippoorwill does not enter the Delaware 
Valley earlier than May 1, so far as I have noticed, 
and remains until October; but during the close of 
its summer sojourn is more likely to be seen than 
heard, for as the day closes it occasionally flits through 
the air, and night after night passes without their 
uttering their monotonous refrain. During the day 
