NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA. 127 
which cover the sand-hills, building, like the Shrike, a nest 
consisting largely of the stalks of a species of Gnaphalium. 
After the young are able to fly they often live round the settlers’ 
houses on the open prairie, but about the end of August they all 
leave. 
Among the trees on the sand-hills and in the bluffs the Night 
Hawk, Chordediles popetue, is abundant, and makes itself very 
conspicuous towards evening by its loud scream, by booming, 
and by displaying during flight the unmistakable white patch on 
each wing. Not unfrequently it may be seen on the wing at 
mid-day; and it always makes an appearance long before sunset, 
sailing about at a great height and screaming frequently. After 
flying awhile over the head of any intruder, it suddenly spreads 
its wings and, giving a wide swoop downwards, emits a loud 
booming noise, which has gained for it in some parts of America 
the name of “Bull Bat.” That this noise is made over one’s 
head in order to threaten or intimidate seems to me pretty 
certain, but I have also, I believe, heard it emitted at a distance, 
without any such object. It breeds commonly among the trees 
on the sand-hills. One day early in August we found a nest, or 
rather two young ones—for nest there was none—about three 
days old, with the egg-shells lying near. Though so young, one 
of the nestlings, which we afterwards proved by dissection to be 
a male, was very pugnacious, and snapped his bill menacingly 
when touched; the other was perfectly quiet, so we concluded, 
though we could not prove it, that it belonged to “‘the gentler 
sex.” While we were at the nest the old birds were, as usual, 
very solicitous for the safety of their young, settling on trees, 
fallen logs, the ground, and fluttering round to draw off our 
attention. The number of old birds began to get very much less 
by the end of August, but a few were nevertheless seen until well 
on into September—one as late as the 11th. After the migration 
commenced they were not unfrequently seen in the evenings 
flying over in large straggling parties, circling about as they 
proceeded. These parties usually travelled south-west I believe, 
though this is not the direction usually chosen by the other birds 
of the district when moving south. 
The Whip-poor-Will, Antrostomus vociferus, differs from its 
near relative, the Night Hawk, in several particulars. It seldom 
leaves the woods and comes out onto the open prairie; and, 
