NIGHT-HAWK. 35 



usually solitary, except inasmuch as several, hawk- 

 ing over the same circumscribed region, must often 

 come into close proximity ; but this seems, in gene-- 

 ral, neither sought nor avoided ; each swoops on its 

 own course, regardless of his momentary neighbour. 

 Yet the tender passion sets aside even the most 

 recluse solitariness in any animal ; and to this I 

 attribute it that now and then I have seen one Pira- 

 midig following another in close and pertinacious 

 pursuit, ever and anon uttering its singular cry, and 

 evidently desiring to come into contact with, but 

 not to strike or hurt its coy companion. I would 

 not assert from hence that the nuptials of this 

 species are performed upon the wing, because the 

 premises are too slight to decide so important a fact ; 

 but it is known that it is so with the European 

 Swift, a bird whose manners greatly resemble those 

 of our Night-hawk. 



It is when the afternoon rains of the season have 

 descended plentifully, that these birds are most 

 numerous, and most vociferous ; and they continue 

 to fly till the twilight is beginning to fade into dark- 

 ness. After this, they appear for the most part to 

 retire, and the strange and startling voices, that 

 before were sounding all around and above us, are 

 rarely heard by the most attentive listening. A lad 

 informed me that when out fishing during the night, 

 not far from the shore, the canoe is often surrounded 

 by bats, which make a great noise. But my assis- 

 tant, Sam, who heard the statement, assured me that 

 these were not bats, but Piramidigs, (with some 

 bats, however, in the company), and that these 



