of the United States. 61 



terior, the latter slender, versatile : nails very short, eanalicu- 

 lated beneath. First primary shorter than the second and 

 third, which are longest. Tail of ten feathers. 



Female easily distinguished from the male. Young similar 

 to the adult. Moult once or twice in the year. Plumage 

 dull, generally consisting of a mixture of gray, reddish- 

 brown and blackish, with some white spots. 



Solitary; shy; live in forests; abrupt in their motions; 

 fly rapidly about in the twilight and in the night, when their 

 vision is more acute ; conceal themselves in the day, except 

 in cloudy weather ; flight silent, owing to the softness of 

 the feathers. Hunt insects, principally nocturnal lepidop- 

 tera, with a patulous mouth. In the breeding season rustle 

 their wings like the doves ; remarkably constant. Lay 

 one or two large eggs on the ground without any nest, rarely 

 in a hollow tree or cleft rock. Voice unpleasant, monoto- 

 nous. Sometimes when flying utter a noise, probably pro- 

 duced by the air rushing into their open mouth, and circula- 

 ting in the body. 



Inhabit all parts of the globe, but chiefly America. Analo- 

 gous to Strix. 



67. Caprimulgus carolinensis, Gm. Bristles shorter than the 

 bill ; tail rounded, reaching an inch beyond the wings ; three 

 outer tail feattiers white on the inner web at tip : length twelve 

 inches. 



Female, with the tip of the three outer tail feathers dark 

 ochreous. 



Chuck-will s-widow, Caprimulgus carolinensis, Wils. Am.. 

 Orn. vi. p. 95. pi. ,4. Jig. 4. 



Inhabits the southern states during summer : rather com- 

 mon. 



68. Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Bristles much longer than 

 the bill ; tail much rounded, reaching one half beyond the 

 wimjs ; primaries mottled. 



Vol. II. 8 



