MERRILL'S PARAUQUE. 161 



and summer. When the nesting season is over the birds remain quiet, and then- 

 peculiar whistling note is not heard with regularity, and yet, on very warm nights 

 during each of the winter months, I have occasionally heard them. During the 

 whiter the birds may be flushed from the dense thickets in the bottom lands, 

 but as the nesting season approaches they leave these close retreats and seek 

 more open ground. During the daytime the birds were commonly found on the 

 ground at the foot of a growth of bushes or among fallen branches, and I have 

 occasionally found them perched, nighthawk-fashion, upon a low branch not 

 more than a foot from the ground. " When closely approached, they dart quickly 

 forward in a zigzag course, dropping as suddenly to the ground. This flight is 

 short, usually not more than 50 or 60 feet, and when settled they commonly 

 remain perfectly quiet until again flushed. They have a peculiar way of turning 

 or facing about as they strike the ground, so that they can better watch the 

 approaching danger. They lie so close that it is with great difficulty that they 

 can be detected, unless the spot is carefully marked. In a number of instances, 

 where the bird seemed to feel that it was observed, I have had them go through 

 a peculiar bowing movement, resembling that of the Burrowing Owl, except that 

 the body is raised from its completely prostrate position. Often when flushed 

 they will utter a peculiar note, sounding like the syllable 'kop,' uttered with an 

 explosive effect. On several occasions, in the fall of the year, when returning 

 from a hunt, I have been startled by a peculiar 'put, put,' which caused me to 

 stop short and grasp my gun a little tighter, feeling sure that I had disturbed a 

 wild turkey and that this was his warning note. Cautiously approaching the 

 spot, I have found that it was made by a Parauque, which was usually perched 

 upon the extremity of a low, dead limb, or on the top of a bush. At these times 

 I found that the bird was watching" for food, and at intervals would leave the 

 perch, dart off a short distance as if in pursuit of an insect, and as quickly return, 

 in very much the same manner that the Whip-poor-will is accustomed to do. I 

 believe that these birds are strictly insectivorous; but I have never made an 

 examination of the stomach except in one instance. The stomach of this bird, 

 killed in January, showed parts of the feet and wings of small beetles and other 

 insects. 



"At the approach of the breeding season and as early as the middle of 

 March the peculiar whistle of the Parauque becomes general, and along the 

 lower Rio Grande, where they are common, it may be heard on all sides. This 

 species is strictly nocturnal. When flushed in the daytime they avoid striking 

 against bushes with wonderful skill, but they are quite sensitive to a strong light. 

 The birds begin to call as the dusk of the evening comes on. The commonest 

 call is a long-drawn 'ko, whe-e-e-e-e-w,' much prolonged, and raised to a high 

 pitch toward the last. This is repeated often and with great energy, and on a 

 still night may be heard at a long distance. At other times the first syllable is 

 omitted. Again it is varied by a repetition of the first syllable, as 'ko, ko, ko, 

 ko-whe-e-e,' the first syllables repeated deliberately, and the last not so long 

 drawn and suddenly cut short. 



