456 WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



the wings extended a little beyond the tail. The wing quills of 

 the Whip-poor-will, of both sexes, were beautifully spotted 

 with light brown, had no spot of white on them, and when shut 

 the tips of the wings did not reach to the tip of the tail by at 

 least two inches. The tail of the Night-hawk was handsomely 

 forked, the exterior feathers being the longest, shortening gra- 

 dually to the middle ones; the tail of the Whip-poor-will was 

 rounded, the exterior feathers being the shortest, lengthening 

 gradually to the middle ones. 



"After a careful examination of these and several other re- 

 markable differences, it was impossible to withstand the convic- 

 tion that these birds belonged to two distinct species of the same 

 genus, differing in size, colour, and conformation of parts. 



" A statement of the principal of these facts having been laid 

 before Mr. Bartram, together with a male and female of each 

 of the above mentioned species, and also a male of the Great 

 Virginian. Bat, or Chuck-will' s-widow, after a particular exami- 

 nation that venerable naturalist was pleased to declare himself 

 fully satisfied; adding that he had now no doubt of the Night- 

 hawk and the Whip-poor-will being two very distinct species 

 of Caprimulgus. 



" It is not the intention of the writer of this to enter at pre- 

 sent into a description of either the plumage, manners, migra- 

 tions, or economy of these birds, the range of country they in- 

 habit, or the superstitious notions entertained of them; his only 

 object at present is the correction of an error, which, from the 

 respectability of those by whom it was unwarily adopted, has 

 been but too extensively disseminated, and received by too 

 many as a truth. " 



END OF VOL. II. 





