BJKDS OF INDIANA. 849 



when the bird suddenly leaves the nest it will scatter them; sometimes 

 they roll down hill. The color of the Whip-poor-will so harmonizes 

 with the leaves that even when one knows where to look he can with 

 difficulty make out the form of the hird. 



On sunny days it sits with eyes apparently shut. Then it will per- 

 mit a hand within about a foot of itself and quickly and quietly leaves 

 its nest. I have never known a sound to escape one when leaving the 

 nest. At other times, when one is flushed, it utters a cut, similar to 

 that of a turkey, which is often repeated two or three times. The 

 female attends to incubation, which begins when the first egg is 

 laid. If the nest is disturbed, the old bird will frequently remove 

 the eggs and the young, it is said, in its mouth, to a more retired 

 spot. 



At dark they come from the woods and thickets and engage in a 

 warfare with insects. They even come into town. I have often known 

 one to alight upon my doorstep, pavement or gravel walk near my 

 house, and repeat its call, sometimes five or six times in succession, 

 every little while, until disturbed. Undoubtedly, they were there 

 after insects, attracted by the light. 



The food of two examined by Prof. F. H. King was, 10 moths, 

 14 beetles, some of which. were click-beetles and smaller lamellicorns, 

 and 162 insect eggs (Geol. of Wis., Vol. I., p. 564). 



Prof. A. L. Herrera notes the assistance they render in destroying 

 many of the gnats (Culex) that sometimes infest the Valley of Mexico 

 (La Naturaliza, 2d series, Vol. I., 1888, No. 4, p. 170). 



The song of the Whip-poor-will continues well into June, perhaps 

 sometimes into July. It rarely sings in the fall. I heard it September 

 14, 1887, and a friend reported two singing before daylight on the 

 morning of September 4, 1897. That is also the latest I have ever 

 noted it. They are certainly fewer in July, and still more so in 

 August. Generally all are gone by August 27 to September 7, but Mr. 

 L. F. Meyer reports it remaining in Lake County until October. In 

 1897 they were last seen in Warren County, September 13 (V. H. 

 Barnett). 



<i. GENUS. CHOHDEILES. SWAIWSON. 



*169. (420). Chordeiles virginianus (GMEL.). 



Night Hawk. 

 Synonym, BULL BAT. 



Adult Male. Above, black, more or less mottled, with grayish- 

 brown and tawny; primaries, brown, the five outer ones marked about 

 midway with a white spot. Below, a white V-shaped mark on the 



54 GEOL. 



