AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 33i 



plaintive little cries, and would never cease until I replaced them in the 

 nest. 



Young Night Jars soon acquire the use of their wings, when they 

 flit away with the parent bird. The Western Night Jar is a very harm- 

 less, inoffensive creature- Its principal food are flies, gnats and other 

 winged insects. These are caught by the bird in its twirling zigzag 

 flight through the darkened air. Often they approach very near the 

 earth, flitting hither and thither in the mad chase. They are very 

 swift of wing — nearly equalling the Swallows in speed and seem tire- 

 less. 



Out west, particularly in the northwestern states, the Night Jar is a 

 migratory bird, and is only se.en during the spring, summer and early 

 fall months. However, there are exceptions, for occasionally I have 

 seen and heard them as they flitted through the dark, wintery skies. 

 During the warm season these birds are seen in large numbers in some 

 regions of the west. The breeding season extends from the middle of 

 May to the first of August. 



"Bull-bat" is another slang name given to this peculiar bird. This 

 appellation is due to its large, chubby-shaped head, and the fact, that, 

 bat-like, it flies mostly during the night. 



If discovered and disturbed during the day in its retreat, the bird 



will swiftly flit away to some other congenial covert. 



J. Mayne Baltimore. 



