The Wit of the Wild 



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of the species. Development is not invariably 

 upward. 



Our whip-poor-wills announce their arrival in 

 May by their familiar call, but some days pass 

 before they get into full song, and even then 

 they are much influenced by weather, keeping 

 silent when it is gloomy, even for several days in 

 succession, while on warm moonlit nights they 

 are vociferous from dusk to dawn. Ordinarily, 

 a couple of hours after dark and another hour 

 or two before dawn give them time enough to 

 express themselves. They are remarkably reg- 

 ular as to the time (referred to the setting of 

 the sun) of commencing and quitting, and they 

 like to resort to the same spot night after night. 

 One will often make a beginning and then seem 

 to stop and try it over again, like a person prac- 

 ticing a new tune ; but these interruptions really 

 mean so many leaps into the air, with perhaps 

 frantic dodges and a somersault or two, for the 

 snatching and devouring of some lusty insect 

 that objects to the process. They never reg- 

 ularly sweep through the upper air as does the 

 nighthawk, but seek their food near the ground 



