THE GOATSUCKERS, ETC. 



139 



they squat closely at the side of a prostrate log or 

 on it, but of late I have found horizontal branches 

 of old apple-trees to be favorite places, the dense 

 shade of an orchard where the branches of the trees 

 interlock being nicely suited to their needs and re- 

 placing the shade of the forest primeval, now a thing 

 of the past. 



The nest is placed on the ground, if a little de- 

 pression among dead leaves can be called a nest, and 

 therein are laid two speckled eggs. The young are 

 absurdly-shaped mud-colored balls when hatched, 

 but very soon have their wits about them and move 

 with much freedom before they learn to fly. The 

 old birds at this time are excellent actors and can 

 play the wounded bird to 

 perfection ; but do not flat- 

 ter yourself that you can 

 pick them up. They may 

 appear to be at your fin- 

 gers' ends, but are sure 

 to be out of reach. 



In very many respects 

 the Night-hawk is a very 

 different bird from the 

 whippoorwill ; certainly it 

 is more active, even di- 

 urnal as well as crepus- 

 cular, and has no tiresome 

 " song." It comes about 

 the same time of year, and 

 stays as long, or perhaps a week or two later, a good 

 deal depending upon the character of the weather. 



Night-hawk. 



