The Bird that Whips Poor Will 



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mottled feathers closely pressed to its body, 

 assume so perfect a resemblance to the branch 

 upon which it is seated, that, even at a short 

 distance, it is almost impossible to recognize it. 

 . . . People have actually placed their hand 

 on the bird, when seated on a rail or log fence, 

 before being conscious of its presence. 

 It will thus remain stiff and motionless, and not 

 attempt to fly away, until forcibly removed." 

 Again, Mr. Frank M. Chapman has lately de- 

 scribed how a Mexican species will behave, under 

 fear, in almost the same way, assuming an atti- 

 tude so thin, gray and rigid, with closely ap- 

 pressed feathers and beak pointing to the sky, 

 that no naturalist need feel ashamed of mis- 

 taking the bird for an upright stub or splinter. 

 It is true that the legs and feet of our whip- 

 poor-will are poorly adapted to firm grasping, 

 but this may be more or less the effect rather 

 than the cause of the practice referred to. 



As nature cannot afford to make this mantle 



of invisibility so perfect that the birds shall not 



be able to find each other, she has provided 



them with a private badge or signal, whereby 



*$ 169 



