THE NIGHT HAWK. 65 



safe from the approach of man and other animals as 

 possible. 



The place where the nest is built, and the manner 

 of its construction, seem however, always to depend 

 on the other habits of the bird. Thus the martin, by 

 its innocence and familiarity, so attaches itself to man $ 

 as to be safe in building about houses, and in cities ; 

 but birds which are less agreeable and more mischiev- 

 ous, are obliged to retire into the woods, and rear their f 

 young out of the way of man. Some build in the tops 

 of the tallest trees, where it is difficult for man, or oth- 

 er animals to climb to themr; others lay their eggs in 

 hollow trees ; others conceal their nests so that there 

 is little probability of their being found, and others 

 again hang them at the end of a small twig on a tall 

 tree. In all these cases, there is evidently a plan to 

 keep the eggs and young, as much as possible, out of 

 the way of danger. But the Night Hawk makes use 

 of a plan quite different from any of these. Her feet 

 are not made for perching on the limbs of trees, nor 

 are her habits such as to admit of her seeking refuge 

 among men. She is destined to lay upon the ground, 

 and she takes the very best means in her power to pro- 

 tect herself and her eggs in such a situation. 



She seems to be perfectly aware that her colour is 

 her best protection, if she makes a proper use of it, 

 and hence she lays and hatches her eggs, in a place, 

 the colour of which is so much like her own, that the 

 difference cannot easily be distinguished, so that she 

 may sit plain in sight and still not be seen. 



In thus giving the fowls of the air the capacity of 

 adapting themselves to their several situations, and of 

 7 



