BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
133 
Plate XXIII. 
CAPEIMULGUS VOCIFEEUS, Wilson. 
Whippoorwill. 
The Whippoorwill, in its migrations, passes from Mexico, Guate- 
mala, and, perhaps, Cuba, through the eastern parts of the United States, 
northward into the British Provinces as far as the 50th parallel of lati- 
tude, and from the Atlantic westward to the valley of the Missouri, wEere 
it is replaced by a closely-allied species. Throughout New England, the 
Middle States, and the Southern Atlantic region, the Carolinas especially, 
it is rather abundant, and the same may be affirmed of the western limits 
of its range. In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, lying outside of our 
possessions, it is met with but rarely ; whereas, in the vicinity of Montreal, 
and around Hamilton, it is far from being an uncommon summer visitor. 
There seems to be a notable scarcity of birds in Eastern Maine as we 
approach the Canadian territory in the north-east. Why the species should 
dwindle into numbers insignificant as the seaboard is neared, while in the 
contrary direction it is aj>parently as abundant as in Pennsylvania, it 
is not our province to speak with positiveness. Perhaps the somewhat 
different conditions of soil and climate which prevail in the north-west 
have much to do with this seeming jireference. Unlike most species, the 
subject of our sketch will, doubtless, when its history has been as carefully 
studied in every part of its habitat as it has been in the East, be found 
to breed throughout the vast area of its United States range. 
These birds never arrive in old, familiar haunts until the weather has 
assumed the mild, placid demeanor of spring, and everything points to the 
complete vanquishment of the winter-god and his merciless hordes of 
invaders. A chorus of strange, weird voices from the solemn depths of 
