NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. ^25 



in many of their cries the syllables from which their common names 

 are derived — such is the case with Chuck-will's-widow. It is nowhere 

 a very abundant species, but more common in Florida than in any 

 other State. It is found in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Missis- 

 sippi and Texas. 



Mr. Stuart informs me that in Florida it nests in the months of 

 May and June, depositing two eggs on the bare ground, or on leaves 

 in the shadow of some dense thicket. According to Audubon, deep 

 ravines, shady swamps, and extensive pine groves are the retreats of 

 this species during the day, when the birds roost in hollow trees. 

 When in search of food, the same places are resorted to at night, and 

 their singular notes are only uttered for a brief period in the early 

 evening, when on the wing. If either their eggs or young are dis- 

 turbed, they are carried off in the capacious mouths of the birds to 

 some distant part of the forest, in the same manner that a cat trans- 

 ports her kittens. 



A set of two eggs in my cabinet, collected by Mr. Stuart near 

 Tampa, Florida, May 20, 1886, measure 1.40x1.02, 1.42x1.00; an- 

 other set, from Manatee county, taken May 14, 1887, measure 1.39X 

 i.oo, 1.41 X 1.02. A set taken in Comal county, Texas, April 22, 1888, 

 measure 1.41 x 1.02, 1.42 x 1.04. These are beautiful eggs, with a pink- 

 ish-buff ground, variously marbled with pale buflf-brown and lilac- 

 gray. They are moderately polished. Mr. Norris' cabinet contains a 

 series of nine sets ; some of these eggs are almost unmarked, except 

 a few spots of gray, while others are boldly spotted with different 

 shades of brown. The sizes of a set containing the largest eggs are as 

 follows: 1.51XI.01, 1.53x1.03; the set containing the smallest, 1.29X 

 .94, 1. 30 X. 93, respectively. 



417. Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.) [354] 



Whip-poor-irlll. 



Hab. Eastern United States to the Great Plains, south to Guatemala. 



The well-known Whip-poor-will, which inhabits the Eastern 

 United States, may be easily distinguished from A. carolinensis by its 

 greatly inferior size ; the colors of both birds are quite similar. In its 

 habits the Whip-poor-will is very nearly the counterpart of the Chuck- 

 will's-widow, keeping within the recesses of deep woods and under- 

 growth during the daytime, remaining perfectly silent. The name of 

 this species is a pretty accurate rendering of its note, which is uttered 

 when night comes on, both when the bird is on the wing in pursuit of 

 nocturnal insects, or at rest. Rocky ravines shaded by trees, where 

 the sun seldom penetrates the thick foliage, or beneath dense under- 



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