NIGHT-HAWK. 37 



times five, or six, uttered as rapidly as they can 

 be pronounced, and all in the same tone. The 

 Chuck-will's-widow and the Whip-poor-will of the 

 northern continent derive these names from a rapid 

 emission of certain sounds not very dissimilar to those 

 of the bird under consideration. The cry is uttered 

 at considerable intervals, but without anything like 

 a regular recurrence or periodicity. 



Whither the Piramidig retires after its twilight 

 evolutions are performed, or where it dwells by 

 day, I have little evidence. The first individual 

 that fell into my hands, however, was under the 

 following circumstances. One day in the beginning 

 of September, about noon, being with the lads shoot- 

 ing in Crab-pond morass, Sam called my attention to 

 an object on the horizontal bough of a mangrove- 

 tree, which he could not at all make out. I looked 

 long at it, also, in various aspects, and at length con- 

 cluded that it was a sluggish reptile. It was lying 

 lengthwise on the limb, close down, the head also 

 being laid close on the branch, the eyes wide open, 

 and thus it remained immovable, though three of 

 us were talking and pointing towards it, and walking 

 to and fro under it, within a few yards. The form, 

 in this singular posture, presented not the least like- 

 ness to that of a bird. At length I fired at it, and 

 it fell, a veritable Night-hawk ! The reason of its 

 seeking safety by lying close, rather than by flight, 

 was probably the imperfection of its sight in the 

 glare of day, from the enormous size of its pupils : 

 but the artifice showed a considerable degree of 

 cunning. 



