412 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Mr. Audubon states that deep ravines, shady swiinips, and extensive pine 

 •,aoves, are resorted to hy tliis species for safety during the day, and for food 

 during the night. Their notes are seldom heard in cloudy weather, and 

 never during rain. They roost in hoUow trees, standing as well as prostrate, 

 which they never leave by day except during incubation. He adds that 

 whenever he has surprised them in such situations they never attempt to 

 make their escape by Hying out, but draw back to the farthest corner, rutHe 

 tlieir feathers, open their mouths to the fullest extent, and uttVir a hissing 

 sound. When taken to the light, they open and close their eyes in rapid 

 succession, snap their bills in the manner of a Flycatcher, and attempt to 

 shuttte off. Wlien given their liberty, they fly straight forward until q^uite 

 out of sight, readily passing between the trees in their couree. 



The flight of this bird is light, like that of the Whippoorwill, and even 

 more elevated and graceful. It is performed by easy flapping of the wings, 

 with occasional sailings and curving sweeps. It sweeps, at night, over 

 the open fields, ascending, descending, or sailing with graceful motions in 

 pursuit of night beetles, moths, and other insects, repeatedly passing and 

 repassing over the same area, and occasionally alighting on the ground to 

 capture its prey. Occasionally it pauses to alight on a stake or a tall plant, 

 and again utters its peculiar refrain, and then resumes its search for insects. 

 And thus it passes pleasant summer nights. 



Like aU the birds of this family, the Chuck-will's Widow makes no nest, 

 but deposits her eggs on the ground, often among a collection of dry decidu- 

 ous leaves, in the forest. These are two in number, and the spot chosen for 

 them are thickets, and the darker and more solitary portions of woods. I^r. 

 Bryant, who took several of their eggs in Florida, informed me that they 

 were in each instance found deposited on beds of dry leaves, bat with no 

 attempt at any nest, and always in thick woods. 



Sometimes, Mr. Audubon thinks, the parent bird scratches a small space 

 on the ground, among the leaves, before she deposits her eggs. If either 

 their eggs or their young are meddled with, these birds are sure to take the 

 alarm and transport them to some distant part of the forest. In this both 

 parents take part. After this removal Mr. Audubon found it impossible, 

 even with the aid of a door, to find them again. On one occasion he actu- 

 ally witnessed the act of removal of the eggs, and presumed that they also 

 treat the young in the same manner when they are quite small. The eggs 

 were carried off in the capacious mouths of these birds, each parent taking 

 one and flying off, skimming closely to the ground until lost to sight among 

 the branches and the trees. To what distance they were carried he was 

 unable to ascertain. 



During the period of incubation they are silent, and do not repeat their 

 peculiar cries until just before they are preparing to depart on their southern 

 migrations, in August. 



The food of these birds consists chiefly, if not altogether, of the larger 



