THE NIGnTHAWK. 165 



descends rapidly tVoiii lii^li above, the vibration caused by the air passinji- 

 through the j)riniaries producing a peciiliar booming sound which has been 

 compared to tliat nuuk' Ijy blowing through the bungliole of an empty barrel; 

 tliis comes perhaps as near to it as it can be described. It is amazing to see 

 what perfect control these birds have over themsehes during this peculiar 

 performance; descending as tliey do almost with tlie rapidity of a lightniii<>- 

 flash, one would think they could not possibly arrest their downward course in 

 time to prevent being dashed to the ground; but at the proper moment, bv a 

 single reverse movement of their wings, they rise in a gradual curve, to resume 

 tlieir flight or repeat the same performance. This aerial play seems to be 

 principally confined to tlie mating and breeding season. I have never observed 

 it later in the year. 



On the ground, however, the Niglithawk does not sIkiw to such good advan- 

 tage and its movements here are slow, unsteady, and evidentlv more or less 

 laborious. Its food consists mainly of insects, such as flies and mos(piitoes, small 

 beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and the smaller night-flving moths, and I believe 

 that all are caught on the wing. It must be considered as an eminently useful 

 and beneficial ])ird and deserves the fullest protection. Unfortunatelv, however, 

 the Niglithawk is considered as a legitimate game Ijii'd in certain sections, and 

 many are killed yearly for food, as well as for sport, simpl}' to show the 

 gunner's skill in marksmanship; and the good they do through the destructi()n 

 of millions of tnmblesome insects is entirelv lost sight of. Its favorite haunts 

 are the edges of forests and clearings, Ijurut tracts, meadow lands along river 

 bottoms, and cultivated fields, as well as the flat mansard roofs in many of our 

 lai'ger cities, to which it is undoubtedly attracted l)v the lai-ge amount of food 

 readily obtainable in such localities, especially al)out electric lights, and also 

 the convenient and- secure nesting sites aftorded on the gravel-covered surfaces 

 of the roofs, which may be found everywdiere in abundance. During the heat 

 of the day the Niglithawk may be found resting on horizontal lindis of trees, 

 on fence rails, the flat surface of some lichen-covered i-ock, on stone walls, 

 old logs, chimney tops, and on railroad ti-acks. When ])erched on the limb of 

 a tree, a log, or a fence rail, it always sits lengthwise, and excepting during the 

 mating and Ijreeding season I have rarely seen one on the ground. 



Strictly speaking, the Niglithawk is not a forest bird, as it oiih' frequents 

 their outskirts, or extensive clearings and burnt tracts, while it avoids the denser 

 and heavier growth of timlier. It does not object to smishine like the Whip- 

 ]ioor-will and the Chuck-will's-widow, and apparently is not aftected bv the liglit 

 in the way they are. 



In New England and most of the other Northern States nidification rarelv 

 commences before the first week in June (more often during the second), and 

 continues well into July. The earliest date I know of on which its eggs have 

 been taken is May 27 in southern Michigan; the latest, Jul\- 19 in southern 

 Pennsylvania. In tlie more southern parts of its range it usuallv nests in tlu; 

 first half of .Ma\-, and voung are occasionalK fonml b\- the end of this month. 

 Like tlic rest of the Capriiini/f/ii/ft, the Niglithawk makes no nest, hut dciiosits its 



