144 NIGHTHAWK. 



bristles, whicli doubtless act like the wings to a fisb-net, 

 steering unfortunate insects down tbe bird's cavernous 

 throat. 



The JSTighthawk, or Bull-bat, as he is called in the 

 South, is familiar to most persons who have the gift of 



„. . ^, , seeing birds, but — in the northeastern 



Chordeiies States, at least — ^he is usually confused 



mrginianus. '^^th the Whip-poor-wiU, and little is 



Plate XXVII. 1 j: -u- 1 1 



known oi ms real character. 



The Nighthawk is a bird of the sky. He passes the 

 day perched motionless on a limb in wooded regions, on 

 the ground in treeless regions, or even on a house top, 

 when, as sometimes happens, he makes his home in a city. 

 Probably he will not change his perch during the day, 

 but as night approaches and his day begins, he will 

 spread his long wings and fly away heavenward to 

 course far above the earth in his search for insect 

 food. 



The l^ighthawk, unlike most members of its family, 

 has limited vocal powers, its only note being a loud, nasal 

 peent uttered as it flies. But it has musical talents in 

 another direction. Sometimes in May or June, if you 

 happen to be where IS'ighthawks are found — ^for they are 

 rather local in distribution when nesting — you may hear 

 a strange booming, rushing sound ; you will vainly seek 

 its cause until you chance to see a Nighthawk with set 

 wings diving earthward from the sky. It is a reckless 

 performance, and you may suppose the bird's object is 

 suicidal, but, when within a few yards of the earth, it 

 will turn suddenly upward. At this moment you will 

 hear the loud, humming sound, doubtless made by the 

 air passing through the bird's stiffened wing-quills. 



Nighthawks, being insect-catchers, are of course 

 highly migratory. They come to us early in May, and 

 return to their winter quarters in South America in Oc- 



