NIGHT-HAWK- 441 



On the last week in April, the Night-Hawk commonly makes 

 its first appearance in this part of Pennsylvania. At what parti- 

 cular period they enter Georgia I am unable to say; but I find by 

 my notes, that in passing to New Orleans by land, I first ob- 

 served this bird in Kentucky on the twenty-first of April. They 

 soon after disperse generally over the country, from the sea 

 shore to the mountains, even to the heights of the Alleghany; 

 and are seen, towards evening, in pairs, playing about, high in 

 air, pursuing their prey, wasps, flys, beetles, and various other 

 winged insects of the larger sort. About the middle of May the 

 female begins to lay. No previous preparation or construction 

 of nest is made; though doubtless the particular spot has been 

 reconnoitred and determind on. This is sometimes in an open 

 space in the woods, frequently in a ploughed field, or in the 

 corner of a corn-field. The eggs are placed on the bare ground; 

 in all cases on a dry situation, where the colour of the leaves, 

 ground, stones or other circumjacent parts of the surface may 

 resemble the general tint of the eggs, and thereby render them 

 less easy to be discovered. The eggs are most commonly two, 

 rather oblong, equally thick at both ends, of a dirty bluish white, 

 and marked with innumerable touches 'of dark olive brown. 

 To the immediate neighbourhood of this spot the male and fe- 

 male confine themselves, roosting on the high trees adjoining, 

 during the greater part of the day, seldom however together, 

 and almost always on separate trees. They also sit lengthwise 

 on the branch, fence or limb on which they roost, and never 

 across, like most other birds; this seems occasioned by the short- 

 ness and slender form of their legs and feet, which are not at 

 all calculated to grasp the branch with sufficient firmness to ba- 

 lance their bodies. 



As soon as incubation commences, the male keeps a most vi- 

 gilant watch around. He is then more frequently seen playing 

 about in the air over the place, even during the day, mounting 

 by several quick vibrations of the wings, then a few slower, 

 uttering all the while a sharp harsh squeak, till having gained 

 the highest point, he suddenly precipitates himself, head fore- 



VOL. II. 3 K 



