404 rHK POORWIM,. ^ 



No. 15(1. 

 I'OORWILI.. 



A. C). r. Xu. 418. t'halitnoptilus nuttallii lAutl.t. 



Description. — Adult: A narrow liand of pure white across tliroat ; below this 

 in abrupt cmnrast a hand of l>lark ; under tail-coverts clear creamy hulT: the three 

 outer pairs of rectrices tipi)e<l hroadly with white or huffy white; remaining 

 plumage an ex(|uisite complex of skeletonized black centers <if feathers with huffy 

 and intermingled dusky marginings, tiie wliolc i)roducing a frosted or tarnished 

 silvery effect: black most conspicuously outcropping on l)ack and on center of 

 crown; huffy "silvering" most complete on sides of crown, wing-coverts, and 

 upper surfaces of tail-feathers; l)lack of underparts aj)[)earing chiefly as bars 

 where also mingle<l with pale olivaceous; flight feathers (inely and fully banded, 

 ochraccous and blackish. Uill black; feet (drying) dark brown; iris brown. 

 Length: 7.00-S.cH-) 1 177.S-20.V-' 1 ; wing 5.50 ( 130.7 i; tail 3.50 (S8.<;i; tarsus 

 .<'5 ( 16.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Strictly Chewink size biu ai)i)earing larger; smaller 

 than a .Xighthawk. which it superficially resembles in coloration. Pooni'lll cry 

 heard a hundred times to once the bird is seen. 



Nesting. — Hf/f/s: 2 laid ui)f)n the bare groimd. creamy white with a faint 

 jiinkish tinge, oval to blunt ellii)tical oval in sha|)e. .\v. size, .ijn) \ .^-i, ( 25.2 x 10 I. 

 Season: c. luiie 1st; one brood. 



General Range. — Rreeds from the western ])ortions of the (ireat I'lains west 

 to the Cascade-Sierra Ranges, north into I'lritish Columbia, .\lberta. etc.; •.outh in 

 winter thru Mexico to Ciuatemala. 



Range in Washington. — Not common summer resident in treeless jiortioiis 

 of eastern \\';isliiii.i,'ton. 



Authorities. — .liilnisloiiiiis iiKttollii Cass'in, "Illustrations." (i8^<>i \>. 2\j. 

 C&S. D'. n-'. Ss'. J. 



Specimens. — Prov. C. 



TIIM sun lias set and the last chore is done, all save carrying in the 

 brimful pail of milk, which slowly yields trilnite of escaping l»ul)l)les to the 

 evening air. Sukey, with a vast sigh of relief, has simk iiiwm the ground, 

 where, after summoning a consoling cud. she regards her master wonderingly. 

 But the fanner Ixiy is loath to (piit the .scene and to exchange the witching 

 twilight for the homely glare of tlie wailing kerosene; so he lingers on his 

 milk-stool watching the fading light in the western .sky and dreaming, as only 

 a lioy can dream, of days which are yet to Ih". Kvery sense is lulled t<i rest, 

 and the spirit comes forth to exi)lore the lands beyond the hills, to con«|uer 

 cities, discover poles, or .scale the heights of heaven, when suddenly out of the 

 stillness comes the plaintive cry of the Poor-will. Poor-will f^oor-xvill. It is 

 not a disturbing note, hut rather the authentic voice of silence, the yearning 



