5O CAPRIMULGID^E : WHIPPOORWILLS J NIGHT-HAWKS. 



FAMILY CAPRIMULGID^E. WHIPPOOR- 

 WILLS AND NIGHT-HAWKS. 



WHIPPOORWILL. 



ANTROSTOMUS VOCIFERUS (Wits.) Bp. 



Chars. Mouth cleft to below the eyes, with minute horny part of 

 the bill, and long bristles on each side. Feet very short and 

 weak, unfitted for perching in the usual way. Inner edge of the 

 middle claw dilated and comb-like. Wings little longer than the 

 broad rounded tail ; plumage very soft and lax, like an owl's, 

 with blended and varied coloration : prevailing tone gray, varie- 

 gated with black, white and tawny, in small streaky pattern or 

 delicate, marbling; lateral tail feathers tipped with white or 

 tawny ; a white or tawny collar on the throat. Length about 

 9.50; extent, 18.50; wing, 5.50; tail, 4.50; hind toe short, in- 

 serted above the level of the rest, not directly posterior ; front 

 toes with movable webbing at base ; outer toe with only four 

 joints, instead of five, as usual in birds. 



The Whippoorwill, belonging to a family peculiar in 

 many important respects, and of such singular habits and 

 general appearance that superstitions no less dismal 

 than ridiculous have attached to its mysterious manners, 

 is a common summer resident throughout New England, 

 arriving early in May, and becoming dispersed in suitable 

 situations in the course of that month. The bird is noc- 

 turnal in habits, and keeps so closely concealed in the 

 day time that it is much oftener heard than seen, as par- 

 ticularly when, the twilight deepening and lengthening 

 shadows merging in the growing gloom, its strange cry 

 rings out with startling effect from no one knows where. 



