NIGHT-HAWK. So 



Order.— PASSERES. (Perchers,) 

 Fam.— CAPRIMULGIDiE.— (^Ae Falcons.) 



NIGHT-HAWK.* 



{Piramidig. — Musquito-hawJc.) 



Ghordeiles Virginianus. 



Caprimulgus AmericamiSy WiLS. — Aud. pi. 147. 

 Caprimulgus Popetzte^ Vieill. 



Cliordeiles Virgi?iianus, Bon. 



These birds are doubtless migratory, for we see 

 nothing of them from September to April. They 

 probably winter with the Grey Petchary and the 

 Red-eyed Yireo, in Central America, as they appear 

 with those species about the beginning of April. 

 We can scarcely fail to recognise the period of their 

 arrival ; for their manners and voice are so singu- 

 lar, that they force themselves upon our attention. 

 About an hour before the sun sets, we hear a loud, 

 abrupt, and rapid repetition of four or five syllables 

 in the air above our heads, resembling the sounds, 

 jpiramidigf or gi me a hit, or perhaps still more, witta- 

 wittawit. On looking up we see some two or three 

 birds, exceedingly like swallows in figure and flight, 



* Length 8^ inches, expanse 20, tail 4, flexure 1^, rictus ^, tarsus 



I A'V-i^ 



