C II UCK-W ILL'S WIDOW. 239 



ing these repetitions are renewed, and continue until dawn has fairly 

 appeared. During the day it is altogether silent. This note, or call, 

 instantly attracts the attention of a stranger, and is strikingly different 

 from that of the Whip-poor-will. In sound and articulation it seems 

 plainly to express the words which have been applied to it {Ckuck-tviW s- 

 widow), pronouncing each syllable leisurely and distinctly, putting the 

 principal emphasis on the last word. In a still evening it may be heard 

 at the distance of nearly a mile, the tones of its voice being stronger 

 and more full than those of the Whip-poor-will, who utters his with much 

 greater rapidity. In the Chickasaw country, and throughout the whole 

 Missisippi territory, I found the present species very numerous in the 

 months of April and May, keeping up a continued noise during the whole 

 evening, and in moonlisrht throughout the whole of the night. 



The flight of this bird is slow, skimming about at a few feet above the 

 surface of the ground, frequently settling on old logs, or on the fences, 

 and from thence sweeping around in pursuit of various winged insects 

 that fly in the night. Like the Whip-poor-will it prefers the declivities 

 of glens and other deeply shaded places, making the surrounding moun- 

 tains ring with echoes the whole evening. I several times called the 

 attention of the Chickasaws to the notes of this bird, on which occa- 

 sions they always assumed a grave and thoughtful aspect ; but it ap- 

 peared to me that they made no distinction between the two species ; so 

 that whatever superstitious notions they may entertain of the one are 

 probably applied to both. 



This singular genus of birds, formed to subsist on the superabundance 

 of nocturnal insects, are exactly and surprisingly fitted for their pecu- 

 liar mode of life. Their flight is low, to accommodate itself to their 

 prey ; silent, that they may be the better concealed, and sweep upon it 

 unawares ; their sight most acute in the dusk, when such insects are 

 abroad ; their evolutions something like those of the bat, quick and sud- 

 den ; their mouths capable of prodigious expansion, to seize with more 

 certainty, and furnished with long branching hairs, or bristles, serving 

 as palisadoes to secure what comes between them. Reposing so much 

 during the heats of day they are much infested with vermin, particu- 

 larly about the head, and are provided with a comb on the inner edge 

 of the middle claw, with which they are often employed in ridding them- 

 selves of these pests, at least when in a state of captivity. Having no 

 weapons of defence except their wings, their chief security is in the 

 solitude of night, and in their color and close retreats by day ; the for- 

 mer so much resembling that of dead leaves of various hues as not to be 

 readily distinguished from them even when close at hand. 



The Chuck-will's-widow lays its eggs, two in number, on the ground, 

 generally, and I believe always, in the woods ; it makes no nest ; the 

 eggs are of a dull olive color, sprinkled with darker specks, are about 



