BIRDS OF KANSAS 95 



of its members. These visits, however, so often occur 

 without any bad consequences, that this superstitious 

 dread seems to be on the decline. 



" He is now a regular acquaintance. Every morning 

 and evening his shrill and rapid repetitions are heard 

 from the- adjoining woods; and when two or more are 

 calling out at the same time, as is often the case in the 

 pairing season, and at no great distance from each other, 

 the noise, mingling with the echoes from the mountains, 

 is really surprising. Strangers in parts of the country 

 where these birds are numerous find it almost impossible 

 for some time to sleep, while to those long acquainted with 

 them the sound often serves as a lullaby to assist their 

 repose. 



" These notes seem pretty plainly to articulate the 

 words which have been generally applied to them, Whip- 

 poor-will, the first and last syllables being uttered with 

 great emphasis, and the whole is in about a second to 

 each repetition; but, when two or more males meet, 

 their Whip-poor-will altercations become much more rapid 

 and incessant, as if each were straining to overpower or 

 silence the other. When near, you often hear an intro- 

 ductory cluck between the notes. At these times, as well 

 as at almost all others, they fly low, not more than a few 

 feet from the surface, skimming about the house and be- 

 fore the door, alighting on the woodpile or settling on the 

 roof. Towards midnight they generally become silent, 

 unless in clear moonlight, when they are heard with little 

 intermission till morning. If there be a creek near, with 

 high, precipitous, bushy banks, they are sure to be found 

 in such situations. During the day they sit in the most 



