2l6 



Bird - Lore 



hear it where I was so anxiously awaiting — but the Whip-poor-will did not 

 quiver a whisker. 



For sixteen days after our discovery of the eggs, we tramped up that rocky 

 path to our destination, the home of the Whip-poor-will, a three-mile walk 

 each way. By this time we were exceedingly fond of her; in fact, contrary to 

 our general custom, we had killed a six-foot blacksnake which was stealthily 

 crawUng upon her unawares, and we awaited the advent of her babies with 

 much soHcitation and joy. 



The sixteenth day, the Whip-poor-will whirred up, and there, in the de- 

 pression of the chestnut-oak leaves, were two little Whip-poor-will babies. 



WHIP-POOR-WILL TWINS 



Their beaks and heads were plentifully besprinkled with egg-shells, little 

 particles of which were quite imbedded in their fur. Perhaps one will dis- 

 pute the possibility of Whip-poor-wills bearing fur, but I can at least assure 

 you that these infants bore no resemblance to the young of most birds. In- 

 stead of being pink, with only wisps of feathers protruding from their skin, 

 they were completely covered with a nice soft down, which might be likened 

 to that of a chick. Fragments of shell were scattered on the leaves about them. 



After taking a picture of the youngsters, while the mother fluttered wildly 

 about us, cackling in guttural notes, we hurriedly left the trio. 



The next day we revisited the site and found that the young Whip-poor-wills 

 were beginning to look like their mother, especially around the beak, and that 



