MERRILL'S PARAUQUE. IGl 



and summer. When the nesting season is over the birds rcnniiii (|uiet, and tlieir 

 peculiar whisthun' note is not heard with regularit\', ;nid Art, on >ery warm niglits 

 during each of the winter months, I have occasionally heard them. During the 

 winter the birds may be flushed from the dense thickets in the bottom lauds, 

 but as the nesting season approaches they leave these close retreats and seek 

 more open ground. During the da)-time the birds were commonly found on the 

 ground at the foot of a growth of bushes or among fallen bi-anches, and I have 

 occasionally found them perched, nighthawk-fashion, upon a low branch not 

 more than a foot from the ground. When closely approacheil, they dart quicklv 

 forward in a zigzag course, dropping as suddenly to the ground. This fliglit is 

 short, usually not more than fM or 60 feet, and when settled tlun' commonly 

 remain perfectly (piiet luitil again flushed. They have a ])eculiar "way of turning 

 or facing about as they strike the ground, so that they can better watch the 

 approaching danger. They lie so close that it is with great difficult \ that they 

 can be detected, unless the spot is carefully marked. In a. numl)er of instances, 

 where the bird seemed to feel that it was observed, I have had them go through 

 a peculiar bowing movement, I'esembling that of the Burrowing (_)wl, except tliat 

 the body is raised from its completely prostrate position. Often when flushed 

 they will utter a peculiar note, soundhig like the syllable 'k()p,' uttered with an 

 explosive etiect. On several occasions, in the fall of the }'ear, when returning 

 from a. hunt, I have been startled by a peculiar 'put, put,' which caused me to 

 sto}) short and grasp my gun a little tighter, feeling sure that I had disturbed a 

 wild turkey and that this was his warning note. Cautiously approaching the 

 spot, I have found tlmt it was made by a Pai-auque, which was usually perched 

 upon the extremity of a low, dead limb, or on the top of a bush. At these times 

 I found that the bird was watching for food, and at intervnls would leave the 

 perch, dart off a short distance as if in pursuit of an insect, and as (|uickly return, 

 in very much the same manner that the Whip-poor-will is accustomed to do. I 

 believe that these birds are strictly insectivorous: but I have never made an 

 examination of the stomach except in one instance. The stomach of this bird, 

 killed in January, showed parts of the feet and wings of small beetles and other 

 insects. 



"At the approach of the breeding season and as earl}- ;is the middle of 

 ]\rarch the peculiar whistle of the Parauque becomes general, and along the 

 lower Rio Grande, where they are connnon, it may be heard on all sides. This 

 species is strictly noctin-nal. A¥hen flushed in the daytime they avoid striking 

 against bushes with wondcn-ful skill, Ijut thcA' are (piite sensitive to a strong light. 

 The birds beffiu to call as tlie dusk of the evening: comes on. l^lic commonest 

 call is a long-drawn 'ko, whe-e-e-e-e-w,' much prolonged, and raised to a high 

 pitch toward the last. This is repeated often and with great energ}', and on a 

 still night may be heard at a long distance. At othei" times the first syllable is 

 omitted. Again it is varied l)y a repetition of tlie first syllable, as 'ko, ko, ko, 

 ko-whe-e-e,' the first syllal)les repeated deliberately, and the last not so long 

 drawn and suddenly cut short. 



16896— No. 3 11 



