Species II. CAPBTMULGUS AMERICANUS* 



NIGHT-HAWK. 



[Plate XL. Fig. 1, Male. Fig. 2, Female.] 

 Long^winged Goatsucker, Arct. Zool., No. 337. 



This bird, in Virginia and some of the southern districts, is called a 

 bat ; the name Night-hawk is usually given it in the Middle and Northern 

 States, probably on account of its appearance when on wing very much 

 resembling some of our small Hawks, and from its habit of flying 

 chiefly in the evening. Though it is a bird universally known in the 

 United States, and inhabits North America, in summer, from Florida 

 to Hudson's Bay, yet its history has been involved in considerable 

 obscurity by foreign writers, as well as by some of our own country. 

 Of this I shall endeavor to divest it in the present account. 



Three species only, of this genus, are found within the United States ; 

 the Chuck-wilV s-widow, the Whip-poor-will, and the Night-hawk. The 

 first of these is confined to those states lying south of Maryland ; the 

 other two are found generally over the Union, but are frequently con- 

 founded one with the other, and by some supposed to be one and the 

 same bird. A comparison of this with the succeeding plate, which 

 contains the figure of the Whip-poor-will, will satisfy those who still 

 have their doubts on this subject ; and the great difi"erence of manners 

 which distinguishes each will render this still more striking and satis- 

 factory. 



On the last week in April, the Night-Hawk commonly makes its first 

 appearance in this part of Pennsylvania. At what particular period 

 they enter Georgia I am unable to say ; but I find by my notes, that in 

 passing to New Orleans by land, I first observed this bird in Kentucky 

 on the 21st of April. They soon after disperse generally over the coun- 

 try, from the seashore to the mountains, even to the heights of the 

 Alleghany ; and are seen, towards evening, in pairs, playing about, high 

 in air, pursuing their prey, wasps, flies, beetles, and various other 

 winged insects of the larger sort. About the middle of May the female 

 begins to lay. No previous preparation or construction of nest is made ; 

 though doubtless the particular spot has been reconnoitred and deter- 



* CapHmulgus popetue, Vieill. Ois. de I'Am. Sept. pi. 24, female. 

 Vol. II.— 16 (241) 



