NIGHT-HAWK. 443 



The Night-hawk is a bird of strong and vigorous flight, and 

 of large volume of wing. It often visits the city, darting and 

 squeaking over the streets at a great height, diving perpendicu- 

 larly with the same hollow sound as before described. I have 

 also seen them sitting on chimney tops in some of the most 

 busy parts of the city, occasionally uttering their common note. 



When the weather happens to be wet and gloomy, the Night- 

 hawks are seen abroad at all times of the day, generally at a 

 considerable height; their favourite time, however, is from two 

 hours before sun-set until dusk. At such times they seem all vi- 

 vacity, darting about in the air in every direction, making fre- 

 quent short sudden turnings, as if busily engaged in catching 

 insects. Even in the hottest, clearest weather, they are occasion- 

 ally seen abroad, squeaking at short intervals. They are also 

 often found sitting along the fences, basking themselves in the 

 sun. Near the sea-shore, in the vicinity of extensive salt marsh- 

 es, they are likewise very numerous, skimming over the mea- 

 dows, in the manner of Swallows, until it is so dark that the eye 

 can no longer follow them. 



When wounded and taken, they attempt to intimidate you 

 by opening their mouth to its utmost stretch, throwing the head 

 forwards, and uttering a kind of guttural whizzing sound, strik- 

 ing also violently with their wings, which seem to be their only 

 offensive weapons; for they never attempt to strike with the 

 bill or claws. 



About the middle of August they begin to move off towards 

 the south; at which season they may be seen almost every even- 

 ing, from five o'clock until after sun-set, passing along the Schuyl- 

 kill and the adjacent shores, in widely scattered multitudes, all 

 steering towards the south. I have counted several hundreds 

 within sight at the same time, dispersed through the air, and 

 darting after insects as they advanped. These occasional proces- 

 sions continue for two or three weeks; none are seen travelling 

 in the opposite direction. Sometimes they are accompanied by 

 at least twice as many Barn Swallows, some Chimney Swal- 

 lows and Purple Martins. They are also most numerous imme 



