288 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



incubation and feeding her through a small hole left open for 

 the purpose. 



The Goat- The goat-sucker is so called from the belief 

 Suckers. i on g entertained that it was in the habit of sucking 

 the teat of the goat. There are several varieties and they are 

 remarkable for the strangeness of their cries. The Goat-sucker 

 has sometimes been called the Night-jar from its discordant 

 note, it is also known as the Fern Owl. Mr. Wood says : " It 

 may be seen at the approach of evening silently wheeling 

 round the trees, capturing the nocturnal moths and beetles; 

 then occasionally settling and uttering its jarring cry. When 

 flying the bird sometimes makes its wings meet over its back, 

 and brings them together with a smart snap. It arrives in 

 England in the beginning of May and leaves in December. 

 The Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will's-widow both belong 

 to this family." 



The Whip- The Whip-poor-will, which is peculiar to America, 

 poor-WilL i s celebrated for its singular melody, which is 

 heard in spring to issue at night from the woods and glens 

 of all parts of the country. It is a rapid warbling repetition 

 of the name given to the bird, and is so distinctly pronounced, 

 as to seem like the voice of a human being. It is a solitary 

 bird, remaining silent and sequestered during the day, but at 

 night it often approaches a dwelling, and pours forth its 

 song upon the door-step, or a neighbouring tree. 

 Chuck-Will's- This bird, also peculiar to America, is about 

 Widow. a f oo t m length, resembling in colour, form, and 

 habits, the whip-poor-will. It is a solitary bird, frequenting 

 glens and hollows, and seldom making its appearance during 

 the day. Its song, which is uttered, like that of the whip- 

 poor-will, at night, is a constant repetition of the sound, 

 chuck-will's-widow, very distinctly articulated. It is common 

 in Georgia, and is regarded by the Creek Indians with super- 

 stitious awe. It is very seldom seen in the Middle or Eastern 

 States; "but I recollect once," says an American writer, "to have 



