242 AN ORNITHOLOGICAL DISTINCTION. 



"What have you got the rotten wood for, Jake?" 

 asked Gaultier. 



" I reckin ee'll see by-an'-by," replied the old fellow. 

 " It's a smart enuff trick, an' mebbe ye'll find it useful 

 some other time." 



As nothing more could be extracted from him on the 

 subject, the young men whiled away the time as best 

 they could until the lengthening shadows announced 

 the approach of sunset. 



" I guess it's about time to make tracks," said Jake. 

 " The night-hawks are skimmin' about, an' thur's leetle 

 more'n an hour till dark arter they kirns out." 



The young men, on looking upwards, observed several 

 birds, much like the common swift in appearance, but 

 much larger, flying with a winnowing motion round the 

 clearing, uttering at frequent intervals a rapid, abrupt 

 note, resembling the words " witta-ivitta-wit" These 

 were the Caprimulgus Americanus of Wilson and Au- 

 dubon, a kind of goat-sucker, known variously among 

 the settlers and backwoodsmen as mosquito -hawks and 

 night-hawks. In flying, they may easily be mistaken 

 by a casual observer for the common swallow ; but on 

 a close observation a white spot will be remarked on 

 each wing, while their mode of flight differs slightly 

 from the latter, the goat-sucker leaning more to one 

 side, while its tail and wings are much longer than 

 those of the swallow. 



While Pierre and Gaultier followed with their eyes 

 the swift movement of the night-hawks, making some 



