ANTROSTOxMUS NUTTxVLLI. 5G7 



Family GAPRIMULGID.T^— Goatsuckeks. 

 Antrostomus nuttalli. 



Poor-%vill. 



{Koo-ta-guch' of the Palutes; Toet-sa-(fueh' of the Shoshoues.) 



Caprinudi/U8 nuttalli, Audubon, Orii. Biog., V, 1839, 335. 



Antroxtomus nuttalli, Cassin, Joiirn. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pbihul., II, 1852, 123. — Baird, 

 Birds N. Am., ISoS, 140; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1S.-)!I, No. 1 13.— Cooi-iOK, Orii. 

 Cal., I, 1870, .341.— CoUKK, Key, 1872, 181; (Jliock List, 1873, No. 2G(i; Birds 

 N.VV., 1874, 2«1.— B. B. & II., Hist. N. Am. B., II, 1874, 417, pi. XLVi, ««. .3. 

 — IIenshaw, 1875, 3G'J. 



Unlike its eastern represent-ivtive, the well-known Wliip-poor-will (./. 

 fociferus), this western species is an inhabitant of open places exclusivei}', 

 the sage-brush country being, so far as we observed, its only liabitat. It 

 appeared to be most abundant on the mesas and about the foot-hills of tho 

 mountains, but it was often observed or heard in the lower valleys, as well 

 as in the mountain-parks, below an altitude of 8,000 feet. This bird was 

 seen only when startled from the ground by our too near approach, when 

 it would fly up suddenly and flutter off in a nianiicr similar to tliat of 

 certain Owls, the flight being also noiseless. Often while returning late 

 from the mountains, and while following the road or trail homeward across 

 the mesa, we have beheld one of these birds start up in front of us, as 

 noiselessly as a shadow, again settling down a few rods ahead; we have 

 followed one thus for a hundred yards or more before it would diverge 

 from our course. 



The call of this bird is somewhat like that of the Whip-poor-will, 

 but is far less distinctly uttered, as well as weaker, sounding more like 

 poor-will, the last .syllable only being distinctly enunciated. This call we 

 have heard at all hours of the day, but they sing most vigorou.sly as night 

 approaches. Both sexes incubate. 



List of Kpccimens. 



799, (J fid.; Trnckee Reservation, Nevada, June 3, 1863. 8T»g— 17.J— (?)— 5. Bill, 

 black; iris, raw umbi'r; tarsi iiid toes, dusiiy sepia. 



84.3, egfTs 2; East Ilnmboldt Mountains, July 20, 1863. Deposited on bare 

 ground, beneath sagebnsli, ou bill side. Male killed while flying from eggs. 



