MACROCHIRES. , 117.^ 



Order MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers, Swifts, Humming-: 



birds. 



Suborder CAPRIMULGI. Goatsuckers. 



Family Capri mulgid^. Nighthawk and Whippoorwill. 



158. (417.) Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.). 138. 



Whip-poor-will. 



Synonyms: Caprimulgus vociferus. 



Night-Jar. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162, 180. 



The Whip-poor-will is decidedly local in its distribution, 

 being common at one place and unknown at another not far 

 away, with no apparent reason. It is strictly nocturnal in 

 habits, and is therefore more often heard than seen. Even 

 when flushed in daylight it flies but a few rods and settles 

 down again, trusting to its protective coloration for conceal- 

 ment. So perfectly does its plumage and posture simulate a 

 part of a log, or a knot on a log, that it is perfectly hidden 

 from all but practiced and discriminating eyes. Being 

 strictly insectivorous it is strictly migratory in habits, reach- 

 ing southern Ohio during the third week in April and the 

 northern counties shortly after the first of May. It has left 

 the state by September 22. 



In northern Ohio one must look for the Whip-poor-will in 

 the wilder and rougher parts of the region. River gorges 

 and rocky bluffs may harbor numbers of pairs. 



159. (420.) Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). 139. 



Nighthawk. 



Synonyms: Chordeiles popetue, Caprimulgus virginianus, C 



popetue var. popetue. 

 Bull Bat, Goatsucker, Night Jar, Mosquito-hawk, Pisk. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162. 



Contrary to its name, the Nighthawk is not strictly noc- 

 turnal, but is rather a bird of the twilight and dark days, but 

 it is frequently seen at broad day, particularly during the 

 season of southward migration. It is more numerous dur- 



