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380 WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
description ; the upper part of the head is of a light brownish gray, 
marked with a longitudinal streak of black, with others radiating from 
it; the back is darker, finely streaked with a less deep black; the 
scapulars are very light whitish ochre, beautifully variegated with 
two or three oblique streaks of very deep black; the tail is rounded, 
consisting of ten feathers, the exterior one an inch and a quarter 
shorter than the middle ones, the three outer feathers on each side are 
blackish brown for half their Jength, thence pure white to the tips ; 
the exterior one is edged with deep brown nearly to the tip; the deep 
brown of these feathers is regularly studded with light brown spots ; 
the four middle ones are without the white at the ends, but beautifully 
marked with herring-bone figures of black and light ochre finely 
powdered ; cheeks and sides of the head, of a brown orange or burnt. 
color ; the wings, when shut, reach scarcely to the middle of the tail, 
and are elegantly spotted with very light and dark brown, but are 
entirely without the large spot of white which distinguishes those of 
the Night Hawk; chin, black, streaked with brown; a narrow semi- 
circle of white passes across the throat; breast and belly, irregularly 
mottled and streaked with black and yellow ochre; the legs and feet 
are of a light purplish flesh color, seamed with white; the former 
feathered before, nearly to the feet; the two exterior toes are joined 
to the middle one, as far as the first joint, by a broad membrane ; the 
inner edge of the middle claw is pectinated, and, from the circum- 
stance of its being frequently found with small portions of down 
adhering to the teeth, is probably employed as a comb to rid the 
plumage of its head of vermin; this being the principal and almost 
only part so infested in all birds. 
The female is about an inch less in length and in extent; the bill, 
mustaches, nostrils, &c., as in the male. She differs in being much 
lighter on the upper parts, seeming as if powdered with grains of 
meal; and, instead of the white on the three lateral tail-feathers, has 
them tipped for about three quarters of an inch with a cream color; 
the bar across the throat is also of a brownish ochre ; the cheeks and 
region of the eyes are brighter brownish orange, which passes also to 
the neck, and is sprinkled with black and specks of white ; the streak 
over the eye is also lighter. 
The young was altogether covered with fine down, of a pale brown 
color ; the shafts, or rather sheaths, of the quills, bluish; the point of 
the bill, just perceptible. 
Twenty species of this singular genus we now known to naturalists ; 
of these one only belongs to Europe, one to Africa, one to New Hol- 
land, two to India, and fifteen to America. 
The present species, though it approaches nearer in its plumage to 
that of Europe than any other of the tribe, differs from it in being en- 
tirely without the large spot of white on the wing, and in being 
considerably less. Its voice, and particular call, are also entirely 
different. 
Further to illustrate the history of this bird, the following nates are 
added, made at the time of dissection : — Body, when stripped of the 
skin, less than that of the Wood Thrush; breast-bone, one inch in 
length ; second stomach, strongly muscular, filled with fragments of 
pismires and grasshoppers; skin of the bird, loose, wrinkly, and 
