BIRDS OF THE NIGHT. 



NUMEROUS swarms of insects and many small quadru- 

 peds that require darkness for their security come abroad 

 only during the night or twilight. These creatures would 

 multiply almost without check, were it not that certain 

 birds, having the power of seeing in the dark, and being 

 partially blinded by daylight, are forced to seek their food 

 in the night. Many species of insects, not strictly noc- 

 turnal, those in particular that pass their life chiefly in 

 the air, are most active after dewfall. Hence the very 

 late hour at which certain species of Swallows retire to 

 rest, the period of sunset and early twilight affording 

 them a fuller repast than any other part of the day. 

 No sooner has the Swallow gone to rest than the Night- 

 Jar and Whippoorwill come forth to prey on the larger 

 kinds of aerial insects. The bat, an animal of antediluvian 

 type, comes out a little earlier, and assists in lessening 

 these multitudinous swarms. The small Owls, though 

 they pursue the larger beetles and moths, direct their 

 efforts chiefly at the small quadrupeds that steal out in 

 the twilight to nibble the tender herbs and grasses. Thus, 

 the night, except the hours of total darkness, is with many 

 species of animals, though they pursue their objects with 

 great stillness and silence, a period of general activity. 



The birds of the night may be classed under two 

 heads, including, beside the true nocturnal birds, that go 

 abroad in the night to seek their subsistence, those diur- 

 nal birds that continue their songs. There are other spe- 

 cies that are quiet both at noonday and midnight. Such 



