TAB WHIP-P30R-WILL. 76 



than that of the night-hawk, and bent at the point. The 

 mouth is very large, and beset on the sides with long 

 elastic bristles, which serve as feelers and prevent the 

 escape of the winged insects on which it feeds. Our 

 engraving shows its figure in flight, and its curious markings. 

 The Whip-poor-will is never seen during the day, unless 

 in circumstances such as have been described. Their food 

 appears to be large moths, grasshoppers, pismires, and such 

 insects as frequent the bark of old rotten and decaying tim- 

 ber. They are also expert in darting after winged insects. 

 They will sometimes skim in the dust, within a few feet of 

 a person, uttering a kind of low chatter as they pass. In 

 their migrations north, and on their return, they probably 

 stop a day or two at some of their former stages, and do 

 not advance in one continued flight. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOIti 



The following little incident, narrated by Mr. Wilson, 

 illustrates at once a trait in the character of the bird, and 

 the gentle and humane disposition of the naturalist : — 



In traversing the woods one day in the early part of 

 7une, along the brow of a rocky declivity, a Whip-poor- 

 will rose from my feet, and fluttered along, sometimes 

 prostrating herself, and beating the ground with her wings, 

 as if just expiring. Aware of her purpose, I stood still, 

 %3d began to examine the space immediately around mo foi 



