THE GOATSUCKERS, ETc. 139 
they squat closely at the side of a prostrate log or 
on it, but of late I have found horizontal branches 
of old apple-trees to be favorite places, the dense 
shade of an orchard where the branches of the trees 
interlock being nicely suited to their needs and re- 
placing the shade of the forest primeval, now a thing 
of the past. 
The nest is placed on the ground, if a little de- 
pression among dead leaves can be called a nest, and 
therein are laid two speckled eggs. The young are 
absurdly-shaped mud-colored balls when hatched, 
but very soon have their wits about them and move 
with much freedom before they learn to fly. The 
old birds at this time are excellent actors and can 
play the wounded bird to 
perfection ; but do not flat- 
ter yourself that you can 
pick them up. They may 
appear to be at your fin- 
gers’ ends, but are sure 
to be out of reach. 
In very many respects 
the Night-hawk is a very 
different bird from the 
whippoorwill; certainly it 
is more active, even di- 
urnal as well as crepus- 
cular, and has no tiresome p 
“song.” It comes about Night haw 
the same time of year, and 
stays as long, or perhaps a week or two later, a good 
deal depending upon the character of the weather. 

