868 BIRDS OP ILLINOIS. 



primaries dusky, spotted with ochraceous rufous. Beneath, mottled grayish, brown. and 

 buff, vermiculated with black, the lower part of the throat crossed by a bar of white or 

 ochraceous. Adult male. Tail-feathers (except middle pair) with terminal third (ap- 

 proximately) of both webs white. Adult female. Tail without any white, but three outer 

 rectrices tipped with buff or ochraceous. Wing, 6.20-6.70; tail, 5.10-6.50. 



Although so well known by its familiar nocturnal song, the Whip- 

 poor-will is a bird that comparatively few people have seen. This 

 is accounted for by its strictly nocturnal habits. Its flight, says Dr. 

 Brewer (Hist. N. Am. 13. Vol. II., p. 415), "is noiseless to an incredible 

 degree," and is by no means protracted. "They are usually very 

 shy, and are easily startled if approached. At night, as soon as the 

 twilight disappears, these birds issue from their retreats, and fly out 

 into more open spaces in quest of their favorite food. As many of 

 the nocturnal insects, moths, beetles, and others, are attracted about 

 dwellings by lights, the Whip-poor-will is frequently enticed, in 

 pursuit, into the same vicinity. For several successive seasons these 

 birds have appeared nearly every evening within my grounds, often 

 within a few feet of the house. They never suffer a very near ap- 

 proach, but fly as soon as they notice any movement. Their pur- 

 suit of insects is somewhat different from that narrated of the pre- 

 ceding species, their flights being usually quite brief, without any 

 perceptible sailing, and more in the manner of Flycatchers. Their 

 song is given out at intervals throughout the night, until near the 

 dawn. 



"The nocturnal habits of this bird have prevented a general or 

 accurate knowledge of its true character. Strange as it may seem, 

 in many parts of the country the Night-Hawk and the Whip-poor- 

 will are supposed to be one and the same bird, even by those not 

 ill-informed in other respects." 



GENUS CHORDEILES SWAINSON. 



Chordeiles SWAINSON, Fauna Bor.-Amer. ii, 1831, 337. Type, Caprimulgus virginianus 



GMEL. 



GEN. CHAB. Bill small, the nostrils depressed; the gape with feeble, inconspicuous 

 bristles. Wings long, narrow, and pointed, the first quill nearly or quite equal to the 

 second. Tail rather narrow, slightly forked; plumage quite compact Habits diurnal or 

 crepuscular. 



Many species of this genus belong to America, although but two 

 that are well characterized enter into the fauna of the United States. 

 These are easily distinguished as follows: 



1. C. virginianus. Outer webs of primaries without ochraceous spots; white patch 

 on primaries extending over five outer quills, anterior to their middle portion. 



