466 GOATSUCKERS. 



where throughout the evening its echoing notes are heard in 

 the sohtary glens and from the surrounding and silent hills, 

 becoming almost incessant during the shining of the moon ; 

 and at the boding sound of its elfin voice, when familiar and 

 strongly reiterated, the thoughtful, superstitious savage becomes 

 sad and pensive. Its flight is low, and it skims only a few feet 

 above the surface of the ground, frequently settling on logs 

 and fences, whence it often sweeps around in pursuit of flying 

 moths and insects, which constitute its food. Sometimes these 

 birds are seer\. sailing near the ground, and occasionally descend 

 to pick up a beetle, or flutter lightly around the trunk of a tree 

 in quest of some insect crawling upon the bark. In rainy and 

 gloomy weather they remain silent in the hollow log which 

 affords them and the bats a common roost and refuge by day. 

 When discovered in this critical situation, and without the 

 means of escape, they ruffle up their feathers, spread open 

 their enormous mouths, and utter a murmur almost like the 

 hissing of a snake, thus endeavoring, apparently, to intimidate 

 their enemy when cut off from the means of escape. 



This species also lays its eggs, two in number, merely on the 

 ground, and usually in the woods ; if they be handled, or even 

 the young, the parents, suspicious of danger, remove them to 

 some other place. As early as the middle of August, accord- 

 ing to Audubon, these birds retire from the United States ; 

 though some winter in the central parts of East Florida. 



The general habitat of this species is the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States and the lower Mississippi valley. The bird ranges to 

 North Carolina, and Mr. Ridgeway reports it not uncommon in 

 southern Illinois. 



