120 



SUBKIKGDOM VEIITEBRATA. 



CaprimTilgidae (goat-suckers). 

 The Night Hawk,* notwithstanding 



Fig. 209. 



Fig. 210. 



m 



Chordeiles popetue. Night Hawk. 



Ceryle alcfyon^ 

 Belted King-fisher, f. 



Fig. 911. 



its popular name, retires to rest at ^ 

 the close of twilight, when it can no 

 longer discern its insect prey.f Its 

 sharp squeak is occasionally varied by a loud, booming 

 sound, emitted when its downward flight is arrested during a 

 swoop near the surface of the earth. J Its two eggs are 

 usually laid on a rock or some place exposed to the sun, 



without any nest, though 

 the mother broods them 

 assiduously, fluttering 

 away, when alarmed, as 

 though wounded. If dis- 

 turbed, it will, like the 

 whippoorwill, carry off the 

 eggs or young in its capa- 

 cious mouth to another 

 locality. The Whippoorwill 

 j. is silent during the day, 



* The Night Hawk and Whippoorwill are commonly believed to be identical." They 

 are really, however, distinct not only in color markings, but also generically, thus: 



PAPRIMIHPin^ 1 $ G AP E WITHOUT BRISTLES. Tail narrow, forked ; Night Hawk 



' ? GAPE WITH BRISTLES. Tail broad, rounded ; WJiippooririll 



t Its singular habit of perching lengthwise on a limb or rail is well known ; but in 

 confinement it often perches across a finger, or the back of a chair. 



t The former sound is produced by its vocal organs; the latter, by a quick, 

 vibrating motion of the wings. 



