402 NORTH .\^^^:^ICAX mnm. 



iiior season, and towards dnsk tliousands oF tlu*se birds and of C. fe.rcnsin 

 and C. hi nri/i nn'i^lit he seen flyini; in towards the river tVoni tlie j)rairies, 

 tliis <»ne heinLj the h'ast eonmion of tlie three. In Northern Florichi it is 

 also a e(»nunon species, and I have rarely received any collection of e<4gs 

 from that State witliout the ei.'<fs of this bird bein^j; fonnd amonij them. 

 They are known there as Uull-bats. 



In many of its habits, as well as in its well-marked generic distinctions, 

 this species exhibits so many and such well-marked differences from the 

 Whijjpoorwill that there seem to be no good reasons for confounding two 

 birds so very uidike. It is es])ecially much less nocturnal, and has, strictly 

 speaking, no claim to its connnon name, as indicating it to be a bird of the 

 night, which it is not. It is crepuscular, rather than nocturnal, and even 

 this habit is more due to the flight of the insects ui)on which it feeds at 

 morninjj; and at evening than to anv organization of the bird rendering it 

 necessary. It may not unfre(juently be seen on the wing, even in bright 

 sunny weather, at midday, in pursuit of its winged prey. This is especially 

 noticeable with such birds as are wont to fretpient our large cities, which may 

 be seen throughout all hours of the day sailing high in tlie air. Generally, 

 however, it is mosl lively early in the morning and just before nightfall, 

 w hen its supply of insect food is most abundant. \\\\t it is never to be 

 found on the wing after dark. As soon as the twilight deepens into the 

 shades of night all retire to rest as regularly, if not at quite as early an 

 hour, as other birds in regard to the diurnal habits of which there is no 

 question. 



This species appears to be e<pially abundant throughout the fur countries, 

 where, Dr. Ifichardson states, few birds are better known. In the higher 

 latitudes to which these birds resort the sun does not set during their stay, 

 and all their pursuit of insects must be made by sunlight. 



In the winter this si)ecies leaves the United States, retiring to Mexico, 

 Central America, and the northern portions of South America. Specimens 

 from ^lexico were in the Kivoli collection. They were taken by Barruel 

 in Nicaragua, by Salvin in Guatemala, in Jamaica by Gosse, and in Cuba by 

 both Lembeye and Gundlach. 



The movements, evolutions, and general habits of this species, in the pur- 

 suit of their prey, bear little resemblance to those of the Antrostomi, but 

 are much more like those of the VoUnnidrv. They tiy high in the air, often 

 so high as to be hardly visible, and traverse the air, moving backward and 

 forward in the manner of a Hawk. At times they remain j)erfectly station- 

 ary for several moments, and then suddenly and raj)idly dart off, their wings 

 causing a very peculiar vibratory sound. As they tly they utter a very loud 

 and shrill cry which it is almost impossible to describe, but often appearing 

 to come from close at hand when the bird is high in the air. llichardson 

 com])ares this sound to the vibration of a tense cord in a violent gust of 

 wind. 



