WHIP-POOR-WILL. 425 



I have known both birds from my early youth, I have seldom seen a 

 farmer or even a boy in the United States, who did not know the dif- 

 ference between them. 



It is a remarkable fact that even the largest moths on which the 

 Whip-poor-will feeds, are always swallowed tail foremost, and when 

 swallowed, the wings and legs are found closely laid together, and as if 

 partially glued by the saliva or gastric juice of the bird. The act of de^ 

 glutition must be greatly aided by the long bristly feathers of the upper 

 mandible, as these no doubt force the wings of the insects close together, 

 before they enter the mouth, 



I have represented a male and two females, as well as some of the 

 insects on which they feed. The former are placed on a branch of Red 

 Oak, that tree being abundant on the skirts of the Kentucky Barrens, 

 where the Whip-poor-will is most plentiful. 



Caprimulgus vociferus, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, 



p. 62. 

 Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Amer, Ornitli. vol. v. p. 71. 



PI. 41. fig. 1. Male, fig. 2. Female, fig. 3. Young. 



Adult Male. Plate LXXXII. Fig. 1. 



Bill extremely short, feeble, opening to beyond the eyes, making the 

 mouth, when open, of enormous dimensions ; upper mandible arched in its 

 dorsal outUne, very broad at the base, suddenly contracted at the tip, 

 which is compressed and rather obtuse ; lower mandible decurved. Nos- 

 trils basal, oval, prominent, covered above by a membrane. Head dis- 

 proportionately large. Eyes and ears very large. Neck short. Body 

 rather slender. Feet very short ; tarsus partly feathered, anteriorly 

 scutellate below ; fore toes three, connected to the second joint by mem- 

 branes, scutellate above ; claws depressed, arched, that of the middle toe 

 with the inner edge expanded and pectinate. 



Plumage blended, soft and silky, without much gloss. Upper man- 

 dible margined at the base with stiff bristles, much longer than the bill, 

 extending forwards and outwards. Wings long, narrow, the second and 

 third quills longest. Tail rather long, ample, even, of ten broad rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill dark brown. Iris dark hazel. Feet reddish-purple, the scales 

 and claAvs blackish. The general colour of the upper parts is dark 



