NIGHTHAWK, OR BULL-BAT 



Upper parts black marked with white and buff; under 

 parts brown and white striped; throat white; breast red and 

 brown mixed; under side of wings brown with large white 

 spot on each wing; tail brown, striped with buff and having a 

 white band near the tip in male only; feet and legs small and 

 weak; bill short and mouth large. Length, ten inches. No 

 nest, eggs two, 1.20 x .85 inches. 



This bird is not properly named, as it does not belong to 

 the family of Hawks at all, only resembling them in its flight. 

 It is a bird of the evening rather than of the daytime, seldom 

 showing itself abroad except on cloudy days until two or three 

 hours before sunset. Then, circling high in the air it may be 

 both seen and heard, for its size makes it conspicuous and it 

 frequently utters a loud peent as it tips this way and that on 

 the wing. Now and then it plunges headlong towards the 

 earth with a strange, booming sound and a swiftness that 

 threatens sure death; but, just before reaching the earth it 

 turns suddenly with a few quick movements of its wings and 

 soars again to the region of the clouds only to repeat its aerial 

 gymnastics a few moments later. The white spot on the wing 

 is an easy mark of identification. 



During these lofty flights the bird is feasting on the moths 

 and beetles that fly high in the air. Long after the darkness 

 of night has settled down, the cry of the Nighthawk may still 

 be heard in the sky. It is not confined to the country. 

 The dwellers in cities and towns may see it sailing above the 

 loftiest buildings and tallest church spires on the top of which 

 it sometimes alights. 



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