NIGHTHAWK AND WHIP-POOR-WILL 61 



The confusion of the two birds is widespread, 

 in spite of Audubon's testimony that he had sel- 

 dom seen a farmer or even a boy in the United 

 States who did not know the difference between 

 them. But, while they resemble each other 

 closely, they are sufficiently unlike to be classi- 

 fied not only as separate species, but as species 

 of different genera. As for the difference in 

 their habits, it is such as any one may see and 

 appreciate. The nighthawk, for all its name, is 

 not a night bird. It is most active at twilight, 

 in other words, it is crepuscular instead of 

 nocturnal, but is often to be seen flying abroad 

 at midday. The whip-poor-will, on the contrary, 

 is quiet till after dark. Then it starts into full- 

 ness of life, singing with the utmost enthusiasm, 

 till the listener wonders where it can find breath 

 for such rapid and long-continued efforts. The 

 nighthawk is not a musician. While flying it 

 frequently utters a single note, of a guttural- 

 nasal quality, almost indistinguishable from the 

 so-called bleat of the woodcock ; but, in place of 

 singing, it indulges in a fine aerial tumbling per- 

 formance, much in the manner of the snipe. 

 This performance I have many times observed 

 in early summer from the Public Garden in Bos- 

 ton. I have seen it also in September, though 

 it is doubtless much less common at that season. 



