184 Birds of Buzzard's Roost 



in the northern part not until in June. It makes no nest, but, 

 as is shown in the illustration, deposits its two eggs on the 

 bare ground, and within recent years they also nest more and 

 more frequently on the flat, gravel-covered rooms of houses in 

 our large cities. Those that build on the ground always pick 

 out a dry and well drained spot in which to lay their eggs, and 

 if discovered on the nest, the bird attempts by all the well- 

 known tactics of ground-breeding birds to draw the intruder 

 away from the spot, fluttering in front of him, just out of reach, 

 and uttering at times low cries of distress. Occasionally the 

 eggs or young are removed quite a little distance by the parent. 

 The eggs, only two of which are laid, are white, cream, olive- 

 buff or olive gray, marked with black, gray and lavendar. The 

 eggs are laid on alternate days. Incubation begins when the 

 first one is laid, and both parents take part in it. It lasts about 

 sixteen days. The young, covered when hatched with dark- 

 spotted down, are not easily found, nor are they easily discov- 

 ered on becoming full fledged, for their plumage almost re- 

 sembles that of the adults, being a blended mixture of greenish- 

 brown, gray, and black. They soon attain their full size and 

 power of flight, and then take to the same manner of life as 

 their parents. 



The flight of the nighthawk is both wonderful and beauti- 

 ful. In many respects these birds resemble the swallows and 

 swifts. This is especially true of the shape of their heads, bod- 

 ies, wings and feet, the only apparent difference being that of 

 size. All of them are fully equipped to do their specific work 

 that of taking their food out of the upper air while in flight 

 and for this work they are wonderfully equipped. 



In describing the flight of the nighthawk, Major Bendire 

 aptly says : "One moment it may be seen soaring through space 

 without any movement of its pinions, and again the swift flight 

 is accompanied by a good deal of rapid flapping of the wings, 

 like that of our falcons, and then is constantly more or less 

 varied by numerous twistings and turnings. While suddenly 

 darting here and there in pursuit of its prey I have seen one of 

 these birds shoot almost perpendicularly upward with the 

 swiftness of an arrow in pursuit of some insect. Its tail ap- 

 pears to assist it greatly in these movements." Usually they 



