402 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



mer season, and towards dusk tlionsands of tliese birds and of C. texcnsis 

 and C. Junri/i niij^lit bo seen flyinjf in towards the river i'rom the prairies, 

 this one being the h'ast eonnnon of tlie tiiree. In Xnrthern Fhnida it is 

 also a ciiniinon species, and I have rarely received any ccdlection of eggs 

 from that State without the eggs of this bird being found among tiieni. 

 They are kiu)wn there as r>ull-bats. 



In many of its habits, as well as in its well-marked generic distinctions, 

 this species exhibits so many and such well-marked diH'erences from the 

 Whippoorwill that there seem to be no good reasons for confounding two 

 birds so very unlike. It is esjiecially much less nocturnal, and has, strictly 

 sjieaking, no claim to its eonnnon name, as indicating it to be a bird of the 

 night, wliich it is not. It is crepuscular, rather than nocturnal, and even 

 this habit is more due to the iligjit of the insects ujjon which it feeds at 

 morning and at evening than to any organization of the bird rendering it 

 necessary. It may not unfre(piently be seen on tlie wing, even in bright 

 sunny weather, at midday, in pursuit of its winged prey. Tiiis is especially 

 noticeable with such birds as are wont to fret[uent our large cities, which may 

 be seen throughout all hours of tiie day sailing liigli in the air. Generally, 

 howe\'er, it is most lively early in the morning and just before nightfall, 

 when its supply of insect food is most abimdant. But it is never to be 

 found on the wing after dark. As soon as the twilight deepens into the 

 shades of night all retire to rest as regularly, if not at (juite as early an 

 hour, as other birds in regard to the diurnal habits of which there is no 

 question. 



This species appears to be equally abundant throughout the fur countries, 

 where. Dr. Richardson states, few birds are better known. In the higher 

 latitudes to which these birds resort the sun does not set during their stay, 

 and all their pursuit of insects nuist ha made by sunlight. 



In the winter this species leaves the United States, retiring to Mexico, 

 Central America, and the northern portions of South America. Specimens 

 from Mexico were in the Kivoli collection. They were taken by Barruel 

 in Xicaragua, by Salvin in Guatemala, in Jamaica by Gosse, and in Cuba by 

 both Lembeye and (lundlach. 



Tiie movement.'^, evolutions, and general habits of this specie.^, in the pur- 

 suit of their prey, l)ear little resemblance to those of the Antntdonii, but 

 are nuich more like those of the Fa/cniiidrr. They Hy high in the air, often 

 so high as to be hardly visible, and tra\erse the air, moving backward and 

 forward in the manner of a Hawk. At times they remain ])erfectly station- 

 ary for several moments, and then suddenly and rapidly dart ott", tiieir wings 

 causing a very peculiar vibratory sound. As they tly they utter a very loud 

 and shrill cry which it is almost impossible to describe, but often appearing 

 to come from close at hand when the bird is high in the air. liichardson 

 compares this sound to tiie vibration of a tense cord in a violent gust of 

 wind. 



