386 THE WHIPPOORWILL. 



extend to the West India Islands and Brazil. It does not 

 winter within the Union. 



THE WHIPPOORWILL. 



The gorgeous hues of sunset have faded into the deep 

 dusk of twilight. I have been listening to a grand concert 

 at this close of day, in and around a large tract of wood- 

 land on these low grounds north of the Ridge. As the 

 songs of Thrushes, Warblers and Finches die out, the still- 

 ness is broken by a loud call, commonly described as 

 " Whip-poor-will" but which to my ear sounds more like the 

 syllables, chick-koo-rhel. The call is rapidly and earnestly 

 repeated a number of times, the first syllable, but more 

 especially the last, being emphasized. The vocal perform- 

 ance is kept up at intervals during the night, and starts up 

 afresh about day-break. 



Strictly local in its distribution, and partia.1 to swamps 

 and low lands, the Whippoorwill (Antrostomus vociferus) 

 must be numerous here, for I can detect its weird call in 

 some half-dozen directions about the thicket, and in the 

 edge of the woods which it skirts. I creep stealthily 

 in this direction and that, as nearly as I can locate the 

 sound, hoping to get a glimpse of this strange bird of the 

 night, before daylight is entirely gone. I seem to hear him 

 exactly in that red osier bush covered with its snowy blos- 

 soms, and strain my eyes to define his form, but in vain. 

 I move up a little closer, but presently the sound ceases at 

 that point, and starts up somewhere else. Thus I am tan- 

 talized, like one following the will-o' -the-whisp. I spend days 

 in succession about this spot, but cannot get the first glimpse 

 of the bird, nor any sound of it, except at night. 



Nine inches and a half long, the Whippoorwill bears so 

 strong a resemblance to the Night Hawk, that they were 



