the notes to say, Grack-the-vMp ! and cei'tainly, 

 near by, this fits better than Whip-iMor-iviU ! 



The bird was flitting about the small plat- 

 form upon which I stood. I remained as stiff 



" Jt caught at the 

 insects in tile air." 



as the pump, for which, evidently, it had mis- 

 taken me. It was not still a moment, but 

 tossed back and forth on wings that were abstj- 

 lutely silent, and caught at the insects in the air 

 and uttered its jjiercing cry. It leaped rather 

 than flew, sometimes calling on the wing, and 

 always upon touching the ground. 



This is as good a view of the bird as I ever 

 got at night. The darkness was too thick to 

 [71] 



