358 



Trees, Stars, and Birds 



Finley & Bohlman 



FIG. 2 20. Nighthawk. The nighthawk lacks the conspicuous bristles of the 

 whippoorwill. 



other dainties we are willing they should have. In some 

 places they are popularly known as " bull bats." 



If once you learn to recognize the loud, nasal peent 

 of the nighthawk, or.the peculiar booming sound made 

 by their wings when from high in the air they swoop 

 down to near the ground, your attention will often be 

 called to them both in town and country. They rarely 

 fly near enough to afford you a good view of their color, 

 but a large white patch on the otherwise dark wings is 

 very prominent. When the birds are overhead, these 

 white patches make the nighthawks' wings look as if 

 there were large openings through them. Like the 

 swifts, to which they are related, nighthawks fly with 

 wonderful swiftness. Their aerial evolutions might 

 suggest an exhibition of flying by an expert aviator, 



