388 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
gentle undulation caused in the air by its pas 
sage. 
By Audubon, wandering midst solitudes where 
the grandeur of nature acquires sublimity from 
the eternal repose of all around, its loud, clear 
notes were gratefully welcomed, when, exhausted 
and hungry, after a day of uninterrupted toil, 
the darkness of night compelled him to set his 
camp in the wilderness. Under such circum- 
stances, more melodious than song of nightin- 
gale, was the cheering voice of the whip-poor- 
will—his sole companion. For the whip-poor- 
will continues to sing several hours after sunset. 
It then continues silent till early dawn, when, 
along the declivities of the mountains, and 
through every valley, its shrill note re-echoes 
till the clouds which darkened the fair face of 
nature are dispersed, and break into gladness at 
the sun’s majestic coming. Hundreds of these 
birds then assemble in the woods, and emulate 
each other in a chorus. They receive their 
name from the fancied resemblance of their note 
to the words whip-poor-will. Their migrations 
southward, as well as their toils, are performed 
by night. Audubon unhesitatingly pronounced 
this species distinct from the night hawk. 
About the middle of March, in the forests of 
Louisiana, the song of the chuck-will’s-widow, 
its interesting relative, may be heard. It is 
