41G NORTH AMEUirAN BIRDS. 



fallen \o>^. Tlicro tliey (U'posit two e«j;j;3, olliptical in .s]mi>e. Tlieir young^ 

 M'liL'n first hatclii'd, arc perfectly lielplcss, anil their safety largely deiKimls 

 ni)on their great similarity to small } '.jees of mouldy earth. They grow 

 rapidly, and are soon able to follow their mother and to partially care for 

 themselves. 



The a*;'^ of the Whippoorwill has a strong family resemblance to those 

 of lx)th speeies of European Cdin'iiimhji, and is a complete miniature of that 

 of A. carulinaiais. In shape it is oblong and oval, equally obtuse at either 

 end. Kesembling the egg of the Chuck-will's Widow, it is yet more notice- 

 able for the i)urity of its colors and the beauty of their contrast. The ground- 

 color is a clear and pure shade of cream-white. The whole egg is irregu- 

 larly sj)otted and marbled with lines and patches of purplish-lavender, 

 mingled with reddish-l)rown. The former are fainter, and as if partially 

 obscured, the brown usually nuicli more distinct. The eggs measure 1.25 

 inches in length by .88 of an inch in breadth. Wilson's account of its egg 

 is wholly inaccurate. 



In the extreme Southern States these eggs are deposited in April, in 

 Virginia and Pennsylvania about the middle of May, and farther north not 

 until early in June. The young are hatched and able to care for themselves 

 during July, but, with the female, rarely leave the woods. The notes of the 

 male are once more occasionally heard in August. ^Ir. Allen has heartl 

 them late in September, but I have never happened to notice their cries 

 later than August. 



Mr. Nuttall states that the young of these birds, at an early age, run about 

 with remarkable celerity, and that they utter, at short intervals a pe-ughy 

 in a low mournful tone. Their food appears to consist of various kinds of 

 nocturnal insects, besides ants, grasshoppers, and other kinds not nocturnal, 

 frequenting decaying wood and shady thickets. 



.^ 



■=^ 





f 



I^tt foot of Antrostormu vod/enu. ; Lefl foot of iVyctiWiia yaf?iaie«ia«. 



