The Wit of the Wild 



r 



the click to be noted between each whit-to- 

 wheyo, audible several rods away under fa- 

 vorable conditions; but this follows the final 

 syllable with such suddenness as to seem coin- 

 cident with it, and so exactly resembles a tap- 

 ping together of dry sticks that it is almost 

 impossible to convince yourself that it is a vocal 

 utterance. 



To hear a single whip-poor-will calling alone 

 is uncommon. Usually a second or several birds 

 begin their evensong about the same time, and 

 then vie with one another with angry energy. 

 When they are many, the racket raised soon 

 becomes tiresome; but where there are only two 

 their rivalry is amusing. Each shouts at the 

 top of his voice, as if trying to drown his rival, 

 and failing that he increases his speed until each 

 bird is working at a breathless rate, but bound 

 to outlast the other. The result is, that after 

 a few moments they coincide in time, when, as 

 neither can any longer hear the other, each 

 stops, believing itself the victor. 



While these braggart cocks are denouncing 

 " poor Will " throughout the summer evenings, 



^ 178 



