Birds of Canada. 19 
FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDA. THE ‘GOAT- 
SUCKERS. 
» WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
Caprimulgus vociferus.—The Whip-poor-will. 
The Whip-poor-will is a regular summer resi- 
dent of Canada. It is ten and a-half inches 
long ; bill, short, and bent at the point ; mouth, 
very large, and beset along the sides with a 
number of stiff bristles, which turn inwards; eyes, 
full and large; the plumage is variegated with 
black, pale cream-brown, and rust color. The 
notes of the whip-poor-will are three, and have 
a resemblance to the syllables “ whzp poor will,” 
from which it takes its name. It begins its song 
soon after sunset, and continues till late at night ; 
then remains silent till near the dawn, when it 
resumes, and continues till sunrise. During the 
day it sits in the most retired, solitary, and deep- 
shaded parts of the woods, generally on high 
eround, where it reposes in silence. When dis- 
