Birds of Canada. 23 



FAMILY CAPRIMULGID^E. THE GOAT- 

 SUCKERS. 



WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



Caprimulgus vociferus. The Whip-poor-will. 



The Whip-poor-will is a regular summer resi- 

 dent of Canada. It is ten and a-half inches 

 long ; bill, short, and bent at the point ; mouth, 

 very large, and beset along the sides with a 

 number of stiff bristles, which turn inwards ; 

 eyes, full and large ; the plumage is variegated 

 with black, pale cream-brown, and rust color. 

 The notes of the whip-poor-will are three, and 

 have a resemblance to the syllables " whip poor 

 will" from which it takes its name. It begins 

 its song soon after sunset, and continues till 

 late at night ; then remains silent till near the 

 dawn, when it resumes, and continues tiil sunrise. 

 During the day it sits in the most retired, solitary, 

 and deep-shaded parts of the woods, generally 

 on high ground, where it reposes in silence. 



