ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINF.NSIS. 205 



4 



week in May, the young are fully fledged by the last week in July, and as they are found 

 ahrnc in the woods at that early age, must learn soon to hunt for themselves. These birds 

 arc r;ither solitary in habit and, although quite a number occasionally collect in favorable 

 localities, they are not gregarious, even while migrating. The southward passage occurs 

 in September and as these birds arc never seen flying during the day-time, it must be per- 

 formed wholly at night. 



ANTROSTOMUS CAEOLINENSIS. 



Chuck-will's Widow. 

 Antrostomus Carolincnsis GOULD, Icones Aviuin; 1838. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout. Tongue, long, narrow, thin and somewhat fleshy. The hyoid 

 Km;-; rune upward back of the skull. The bristles of the bill arc provided with lateral filaments. 



( '< ii-on. Adult male. General color above, dark-brown, obscured by spots, tippings, and edgings of rufous. The top 

 <:f head i< rufiiu-i with three longitudinal streaks of black, extending from the base of the bill to the nape and there it a 

 : -':-ruf Hi-; line over the eye. There arc drop-shaped spots of rufous on the wing coverts, forming a bar. The wings 

 nrc dark-brown barred on both webs with spots of yellowish-rufous which are sprinkled with brown. The scapularics and 

 upper win:; n. \erts are marked with black end edged with ashy. The tail is brown, marked with ashy and rufous which 

 iippmr in small spots firming bars The three outer pairs of feathers are broadly tipped with white which becomes bufly-yel- 

 I i\v below, and all the feathers arc tipped with buff which is sprinkled with brown above. Beneath, dark-brown, with the 

 i' at!, ITS tipped and spotted with yellowish-rufous. There is a narrow band of whitish on the throat but it is not very dis- 

 tinct. 



Ad'i't female. Quite similar to the male, but lacks the white markings on the tail which are replaced by brownish, and 

 : r.y t ippings of the feathers are without dots, but there is a distinct, subterminal bar of block, and there is no wlxitc 

 u the throat. Bill and feat, brown in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary considerably in markings, much as in the preceding species to which the general colors bear considcra- 

 : i<'\ may lie known at once by the larger size and buffy color on the under side of the white of the tail. 

 Distributed during summer throughout the Exstcra section of the United States, north to the Carolines, and in the interior 

 into Southern Illinois. Winters in the West Indies. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of six specimens from Florida. Length, 12-87; stretch, 25-00; wing, 8-55; toil, 5'95; bill, '42; 

 tarsus, '07. Longest specimen, 13'25; greatest extent of wing,s25 - 50; longest wing, 8'UO; tail, C'50; bill, '45; tarsus, '75. 

 Shortest specimen, 12'50; smallest extent of wing, 24'60; shortest wing, 8'30; tail, 5'40; bill, -30; tarsus, -60. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, mere hollows scratched in the ground among the leaves, no material being used. A secluded locality is always 

 selected, usually in thick hummocks. 



Eyi/s, two in number, perfectly elliptical in firm, pale-salmon in color, spotted ond blotched irregularly with lilac, pale- 

 lilac and brown. Dimensions from 1*40 x '95 to l'55x 1'07. 



HABITS. 



Shortly after the first notes of the Whippoorwill are heard in Florida, a more volumi- 

 nous song comes through the still evening air; it is similar in tone to that of the above 

 mentioned species, but louder and more prolonged, for it consists of at least one more 

 syllabic, and although the lay pronounced by the birds bears but little resemblance to their 

 name, anj one who is familiar with ornithology would at once exclaim, 'that is the Chuck- 

 will's Widow!' The notes are so different from those of the birds last described, that even 

 the settlers in Florida notice it and call them Spanish Whippoorwills. The song of the 



