288 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



incubation and feeding her through a small hole left open for 

 the purpose. 

 The Ooat- The goat-sucker is so called from the belief 

 Suckers. Jong entertained that it was in the habit of sucking 

 the teat of the goat. There are several varieties and they are 

 remarkable for the strangeness of their cries. The Goat-sucker 

 has sometimes been called the Night-jar from its discordant 

 note, it is also known as the Fern Owl. Mr. Wood says: — " It 

 may be seen at the approach of evening silently wheeling 

 round the trees, capturing the nocturnal moths and beetles; 

 then occasionally settling and uttering its jarring cry. When 

 flying the bird sometimes makes its wings meet over its back, 

 .and brings them together with a smart snap. It arrives in 

 England in the beginning of May and leaves in December. 

 The Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will's-widow both belong 

 to this family." 

 The Whip- The Whip-poor-will, which is peculiar to America, 

 poor-'wm. is celebrated for its singular melody, which is 

 heard in spring to issue at night from the woods and glens 

 of all parts of the country. It is a rapid warbling repetition 

 of the name given to the bird, and is so distinctly pronounced, 

 as to seem Uke the voice of a human being. It is a solitary 

 bird, remadning silent and sequestered during the day, but at 

 night it often approaches a dwelling, and pours forth its 

 song upon the door-step, or a neighbouring tree. 

 Chuck-Will's- This bird, also peculiar to America, is about 

 Widow, a foot in length, resembling in colour, form, and 

 habits, the whip-poor-will. It is a solitary bird, frequenting 

 glens and hollows, and seldom making its appearance during 

 the day. Its song, which is uttered, like that of the whip- 

 poor-will, at night, is a constant repetition of the sound, 

 chuck-will's-widow, very distinctly articulated. It is common 

 in Georgia, and is regarded by the Creek Indians with super- 

 stitious awe. It is very seldom seen in the Middle or Eastern 

 States; "but I recollect once,'' says an American writer, "to have 



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