408 THE WESTERN NIGHTHAWK. 
one of the most pleasing adornments of lowland meadow or sage-covered 
upland. The birds ‘quarter the air’’ incessantly in a bat-like flight of irregular 
zigzags, often pouting as they go, bayard - bayard. ‘They are not so strictly 
nocturnal as the Poor-wills, but put a liberal construction on “twilight,” being 
Gane i ulleto 
avail them- 
selves of all 
cloudy days, 
and. in) ace 
moving about 
at will when- 
ever the sun 
slants fairly. 
The middle 
hours of the 
day are spent 
1 POMeeents lane 
ground, where 
their neutral 
tints serve a 
protective pur- 
pose and are 
almost implic- 
itly relied on. 
During the 
mating season 
the males take 
Sie te pata 
bolic headers 
in the air, 
PLS ee im) 1h im fo 
sharply and 
producing a 
loud boom- 
ing dazw-w— 
whether by the Taken near Spokane. Photo by F. S. Merrill. 
EGGS OF WESTERN NIGHTHAWK, IN SITU. 
rushing of air 
thru the wings or across the opened mouth, will, perhaps, never be de- 
termined. 
During migrations scores of these birds are sometimes seen moving aloft 
in loose array and, customarily at this season, silent. While not at any time 
strictly gregarious, favorable conditions are likely to attract considerable 
