414 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



siliiiliir, tliough of a different shade. There is a collar of white on the 

 iindur side of the neck, posterior to which the upper part of the breast is 

 finely mottled, somewhat as on the top of the head. The belly is dirty 

 white, with indistinct transverse bands and mottlings of brown. The wings 

 are brown ; each (|uill with a series of round rufous spots on both webs, 

 quite conspicuous on the outer side of the primaries when the wings are 

 folded. The terminal half of the outer three tail-feathei"s is of a dirty white. 



The female is smaller ; the collar on the throat is tinged with fulvous. 

 Tlie conspicuous white patch of the tail is wanting, the tips only of the 

 outer three feathers being of a pale brownish-fulvous. 



Mexican and Guatemalan specimens are identical with those from the 

 United States. 



Habits. The well-known Whippoorwill has an extended range through- 

 out tlie eastern portion of North America, from the Atlantic to the valley 

 of the Missouri, and from Southern Florida to about the 50th parallel of 

 nortlj latitude. Dr. Ilichardson observed this bird on the northern shores 

 of Lake Huron, but did not meet with it at any point farther north. It is 

 found throughout New England and in portions of New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia, but is rare in the latter places, and is not common in the vicin- 

 ity of Calais. It breeds from Florida northward. It has not been found as 

 far west as Texas. It was noticed by Mr. Say at Pembina. It is given by 

 Dr. Hall, of ^lontreal, as common in that neighborhood, and by Mr. Mcll- 

 wraith as an abundant summer resident around Hamilton, Canada. Dr. 

 Lembeye names it as a resident Cuban species, and Dr. Gundlach informed 

 me that he had taken its eggs within that island. I have also received its 

 eggs from various portions of Florida. 



The Whippoorwill is nowhere a resident species in any portion of the 

 United States. They make their appearance in the Southern States early 

 in March, and very gradually proceed northward, entering Pennsylvania 

 early in April, but not being seen in New York or New England until the 

 last of that month, and sometimes not until the 10th of May. Mr. Maynard 

 mentions their first appearance in Massachusetts as from the 19th to the 

 24th of May, but I have repeatedly known them in full cry near Boston at 

 least a fortnight earlier than this, and in the western part of the State Mr. 

 Allen has noted their arrival by the 25th of April They leave in the lat- 

 ter part of September. Mr. Allen also observed the abundant presence of 

 these birds in Western Iowa, where he heard their notes as late as the 20th 

 of September. 



In its habits the Wliippoorwill is very nearly the counterpart of the 

 carolinensis. Like that bird, it is exclusively nocturnal, keeping, during the 

 day, closely within the recesses of dark woods, and remaining perfectly 

 silent, uttering no note even when disturbed in these retreats. In very 

 cloudy weather, late in the day, these birds may be seen hunting for insects, 

 but this is not usual, and they utter no sound until it is quite dark. 



