DOWNS ON LAND BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 45 



specimen of this bird which they put into a room with a live rat. 

 He immediately attacked and killed the rat, but died shortly after- 

 wards, having apparently overtaxed his strength in his efforts, 

 which will not be wondered at when we consider that the weight 

 of this little assassin is but two ounces and a copper. 



Whip-poor- Will — (Caprimulgus vociferus). — This bird used to 

 breed here regularly near Hosterman's mill at the head of the Arm. 

 I once heard one crying by my pond close to the house at mid- 

 night ; but alas ! from causes unknown, we no longer hear the 

 plaintiff cry of the Wliip-poor-Will. Waterton, speaking of this 

 bird in the forests of Demerara, under the name of "goatsucker," 

 thus proceeds — "The harmless, unoffending goatsucker, from the 

 time of Aristotle down to the present day, has been in disgrace 

 with man. Father has handed down to son, and author to author, 

 that this nocturnal thief subsists by milking the flocks. Poor 

 injured little bird of night, how sadly hast thou suffered, and how 

 foul a stain has inattention to fact, put upon thy character ! Thou 

 hast never robbed man of any part of his property, nor deprived 

 the kid of a drop of milk." When the moon shines bright, you 

 may have a fair opportunity of examining the goatsucker. You 

 will see it close by the cows, goats, and sheep, jumping up every 

 now and then under their bellies. Approach a little nearer, — he 

 is not shy, "he fears no danger, for he knows no sin." See how 

 the nocturnal flies are tormenting the herd, and with what dexterity 

 he springs up and catches them as fast as they alight ,on the belly, 

 legs, and udder of the animals. Observe how quiet they stand, 

 and how sensible they seem of his good offices. Were you to dis- 

 sect him and inspect his stomach, you would find no milk there. 

 It is full of the flies which have been annoying the herd. 



Night Hawk — (C Virginianus). — This very common bird 

 breeds on all blueberry barrens throughout the colony. It rarely 

 visits us until the warm weather of June arrives, and departs for 

 the south before the first frosts of autumn arrive. They lay two 

 pretty mottled eggs on the bare ground. 



Spine-tailed Chimney Swallow — {Hirundo pelasgia). — Very 

 common, building its nest in a chimney formed of little sticks, 

 glued together with a glutinous substance, somewhat like the edible 

 bird nests of China. 



