406 WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



The form of the head and the proportions of its parts are similar to 

 those of the Chuck- Will's- Widow. The bill is 9^ twelfths long ; the 

 aperture of the ear 3^ twelfths ; that of the eye 4^ twelfths ; the nos- 

 tril 5 twelfths. The bristles, about 12 in number, are directed as in 

 the species above mentioned, but are composed of shafts destitute of 

 harbs. 



The oesophagus is 2 inches 9 twelfths long ; its average width 4 

 twelfths, funnel-shaped at the commencement ; the proventriculus 3? 

 twelfths across. The stomach is 10 twelfths long, 8 twelfths broad ; 

 its muscular coat rather thick, the tendons large ; the epithelium 

 strong, tough, with very prominent longitudinal rugae, and of a light 

 red colour. Its contents are remains of insects. The intestine is 9| 

 inches long, from 2f twelfths to 2 twelfths in width. The cceca are 1 

 inch 9 twelfths long, for three-quarters of an inch 1 twelfth in width, 

 in the rest of their extent oblong, with the extremity obtuse, their 

 greatest width 3 twelfths. The cloaca is ovate, 8 twelfths in diameter ; 

 the rectum, including the cloaca, 2 inches long. 



The tongue is 5 twelfths long, slender, tapering to a point, very 

 thin, with two long, pointed papillae at the base, and numerous small 

 papilla on its upper surface. The hyoid bones as in the other species. 



The trachea is 2| mches long, 1^ twelfth in breadth, little flat- 

 tened, the rings feeble, 78 in number. The bronchi of moderate size, 

 of about 15 half rings. The muscles as in the other species. 



The brain is smaller in these birds than in any that have been ex- 

 amined, excepting perhaps the Cuckoos and Pigeons. 



NIGHT HAWK. 



CAPRIMULGUS ViRGINlANUS, BriSS. 

 PLATE CXLVII. Vol. II. p. 273. 



According to Dr RiCHARnsoN, " Few birds are better known in 

 the Fur Countries than this, which ranges in summer even to the re- 

 motest Arctic islands." It extends laterally to the shores of the Co- 

 lumbia River, where it was found by Dr Townsend. In the Texas I 

 found it plentiful, and breeding, although I did not meet with its eggs 



