WHIP-POOR-WILL. 405 



mandible of a small and young bird, apparently a Flycatcher, its cervical 

 vertehrce, a portion of a humerus, and fragments of other bones. 



In a female, the oesophagus is 3 inches 8 twelfths long. The sto- 

 mach is 1 inch 4 twelfths by 1 inch 1 twelfth. Its contents, remains 

 of coleopterous insects. 



The occurrence of the remains of a bird in the stomach of an indi- 

 vidual of this species is a very remarkable circumstance, as it had never 

 been known, or even conjectured to feed on birds. If the larger and 

 stronger species, and especially the Stout-billed Podargi, should thus 

 be found to be carnivorous, their affinity to the Owls, so apparent in 

 the texture and colours of their plumage, will be rendered more con- 

 spicuous. 



WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. 



PLATE LXXXII. Vol. I. p. 422. 



According to Dr Richardson, this bird probably does not proceed 

 farther north than the shores of Lake Huron. A good number 

 remain during winter in the central southern parts of the Floridas, 

 where it was my delight to listen to their curious notes at that 

 season. This species was not seen by Mr Nuttall or Dr Townsend 

 either on the Rocky Mountains or in the Columbia River district, 

 where its place seems to be supplied by a smaller species, which, al- 

 though often seen by Mr Ncttall, was not procured. I met with 

 the Whip-poor-Will in the Texas, and in the course of a joiimey 

 through the northern parts of Maine, performed in autumn, I fre- 

 quently saw individuals on their way southward, flying pretty swiftly 

 close over the ground, from the commencement of dusk. No doubt its 

 migrations are performed by night. The eggs measure one inch and 

 one eighth in length, seven and a quarter eighths in breadth ; their 

 ground-colour varies, and is sometimes very light. 



Dimensions of a male preserved in spirits : — Length to end of tail 

 9^ inches, to end of wings 8|, to end of claws 7^% ; wing from flexm-e 

 7^ ; tail 4| ; extent of wings 17|. 



