NIGHT HAWK. 371 
NIGHT HAWK.—CAPRIMULGUS AMERICANUS.— Fie 170, 
Maus; Fie. 171, Femace. 
Long-winged Goatsucker, Arct. Zool. No. 337.— Peale’s Museum, Ne 1723, 
male ; 7724, female. 
TAPRIMULGUS AMERICANUS ? — Wiuson.* 4 
Caprimulgus Virginianus, Bonap. Synop. p. 62.— Chordeiles Virgimoras, Sw: 
® e 2 * North. Zool. Pi p- 337. 
Tus 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 
* North America appears to contain three species of this curious genus, — the 
present one, with the following, and C. Carolinensis, afterwards described. The 
whole are nearly of like size, and, from the general similarity of marking which 
runs through the group, will somewhat resemble each other. Wilson may, there- 
fore, claim the first merit of clearly distinguishing them, aJthough he remained in 
uncertainty regarding the descriptions and synonyms of other authors. — Vieillot 
appears to have described this species under the name of C. popetue; but, not- 
withstanding, I cannot help preferring that given by Wilson, particularly as it seems 
confined to the New World. ( ay 
Bonaparte remarks, that the Night Hawks are among the Swallows what the 
Owls are among the Falconide ; and, if we may be allowed the expression, the C. 
Americanus has more of the hirundine look than the others. The whole plumage 
is harder, the ends of the quills are more pointed, the tail is forked, and the rictus 
wants the strong array of bristies which we consider one of the essentials in the 
most perfect form of Caprimulgus. We may here remark, (although we know that 
' there.are exceptions,) that we have generally observed, in those having the tail 
forked, and, consequently, with a greater power of quick flight and rapid turnings, 
that the plumage 1s more rigid, and the flight occasionally diurnal: This is borne 
out, also, in our present species, which play “ about in the air, over the breeding- 
place, even during the day ;” and, in their migrations, “ may be seen almost every 
where, from five o’clock until after sunset, passing along’ the Schuylkill and the ad- 
jacent shores.” 
The truly night-feeding specics have the plumage loose and downy, as in the 
nocturnal Owls; the wings more blunted, and the plumules coming to a slender 
point, and unconnected ; the tail rounded, and the rictus armed, in some instances, 
with very powerful bristles. Their organs of sight are also fitted only for a more 
gloomy light. They appear only at twilight, reposing during the day among furze 
or brake, or sitting, in their own peeuliar manner, on a branch; but if inactive 
amidst the clearer light, they are allfeuersy and action wnen their own day has ar- 
rived. To these last will belong the Common Night Hawk of Europe; and a de- 
tail, in comparison of its manners with those of our author, may assist in givin 
some idea of the truly nocturnal species, which are similar, so far as variation o 
country and circumstances will allow. They are thus, in a few lines, accurately 
described by a poet whom Wilson would have admired:— 
Hark! from yon quivering branch your direst foe, 
Insects of night, its whirring note prolongs, « 
Loud as the sound of busy maiden’s whee] : 
Then, with expanded beak, and throat enlarged 
Even to its utmost stretch, its ?customed food 
Pursues voracious. 
It frequents extensive moors and commons, perhaps more abundantly if they are 
cither interspersed or bordered with brush or wood. At the commencement of twi- 
