196 . LAND BIRDS 
suppose, because their color usually blends so well with 
that of their surroundings. | 
Incubation lasts sixteen days, and it is a question how 
far the male shares in it. In some cases he does; but 
as a rule he prefers to watch from a limb overhead so 
long as there are eggs only. So soon as these become 
animated bits of bird life, his interest is aroused, and he 
is quite as ready to guard them as is the mother. The 
newly hatched young are little balls of rusty down, 
mottled slightly with dusky, and have the characteristic 
420. NIGHTHAWK. 
** Orept back as often as she was driven away.” 
large head, wide mouth, and short thick neck of the 
adults, so that you know at once to what family they 
belong. They are carefully guarded by one of the 
parents continually, and if molested they will likely be 
removed to another hiding-place; but the nighthawks 
remove their young less frequently than the poorwills. 
The feeding of the nestlings is accomplished by a 
modified regurgitation, the small insects being brought 
in the gular pouch or cheeks of the parent. A female 
that we found on the nest would not leave the young 
