THE NIGHTHAWK. 165 



descends rapidly from high above, the vibration caused by the air passing 

 through the primaries producing a peculiar booming sound which has been 

 compared to that made by blowing through the bunghole of an empty barrel; 

 this comes perhaps as near to it as it can be described. It is amazing to see 

 what perfect control these birds have over themselves during this peculiar 

 performance ; descending as the}" do almost with the rapidity of a lightning 

 flash, one would think they could not possibly arrest their downward course in 

 time to prevent being dashed to the ground; but at the proper moment, by a 

 single reverse movement of their wings, they rise in a gradual curve, to resume 

 their flight or repeat the same performance. This aerial play seems to be 

 principally confined to the mating and breeding season. I have never observed 

 it later in the year. 



On the ground, however, the Nighthawk does not show to such good advan- 

 tage and its movements here are slow, unsteady, and evidentl} T more or less 

 laborious. Its food consists mainly of insects, such as flies and mosquitoes, small 

 beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and the smaller night-flying moths, and I believe 

 that all are caught on the wing. It must be considered as an eminently useful 

 and beneficial bird and deserves the fullest protection. Unfortunately, however, 

 the Nighthawk is considered as a legitimate game bird in certain sections, and 

 many are killed yearly for food, as well as for sport, simpl}- to show the 

 gunner's skill in marksmanship; and the good they do through the destruction 

 of millions of troublesome insects is entirely lost sight of. Its favorite haunts 

 are the edges of forests and clearings, burnt tracts, meadow lands along river 

 bottoms, and cultivated fields, as well as the flat mansard roofs in many of our 

 larger cities, to which it is undoubtedly attracted by the large amount of food 

 readily obtainable in such localities, especially about electric lights, and also 

 the convenient and secure nesting sites afforded on the gravel-covered surfaces 

 of the roofs, which may be found everywhere in abundance. During the heat 

 of the day the Nighthawk may be found resting on horizontal limbs of trees, 

 on fence rails, the flat surface of some lichen-covered rock, on stone walls, 

 old logs, chimney tops, and on railroad tracks. When perched on the limb of 

 a tree, a log, or a fence rail, it always sits lengthwise, and excepting during the 

 mating and breeding season I have rarely seen one on the ground. 



Strictly speaking, the Nighthawk is not a forest bird, as it only frequents 

 their outskirts, or extensive clearings and burnt tracts, while it avoids the denser 

 and heavier growth of timber. It does not object to sunshine like the Whip- 

 poor-will and the Chuck-will's-widow, and apparently is not affected by the light 

 in the way they are. 



In New England and most of the other Northern States nidification rarely 

 commences before the first week in June (more often during the second), and 

 continues well into July. The earliest date I know of on which its eggs have 

 been taken is May 27 in southern Michigan; the latest, July 19 in southern 

 Pennsylvania. In the more southern parts of its range it usually nests in the 

 first half of Mav, and young are occasionallv found by the end of this month. 

 Like the rest of the Caprimulgidce, the Nighthawk makes no nest, but deposits its 



