WHIPPOORWILL. 



391 



secure larger insects in other ways ; and to this end the rictus is frequently strongly 

 bristled, as in the Tyraanidse. . . . The feet are so extremely short that the birds cannot 

 perch in the usual way, but sit lengthwise on a large branch, or crouch on the ground. 

 They lay two lengthened, white or thickly spotted eggs, on or near the ground, in 

 stumps, etc. The sexes are distinguishable, but nearly alike. The voice is peculiar, and 

 has given several of the species their fanciful onomatopoetic names." (Dr. Elliott Coues.) 

 The family is represented in North America by the following genera : 



1, Antrostomus Gould. Whippoorwills. Two species. 



2, Phalsenoptilus Ridgway. Poorwills. One species. 



3, Nyctidtomus Gould. Parauques. One species. 



5, Cbordeiks Swainson. Nighthawks. Two species. 



WHIPPOORWILL. 



Antrostomus vociferus Bonaparte. 



Plate XXXIII. Fig. 7. 



The last dim rays of sunset slowly die, 



And creeping shadows hide the grassy hill. 

 As fades the light the bird-songs cease to trill 



As TCSper-bats through the dim twilight fly. 



Pale stars begin to twinkle in the sky, 



While, like a spirit voice, the hidden rill 



Speaks to the night; and all things else are still. 



Then sudden through the dark, afar or nigh, 



I know not, come the sweet notes vrbip-poor-will, 



Voicing sad feelings that I deemed forgot: 

 And ever from the forest dark and chill 

 Conies the soft song that stirs old memories, till 



I see again the wood, the field, the cot 



Where youth was spent; brought back by wrbip-poor-will. 



On the dark canvas of the quiet night 



Memory paints pictures of the long past days. 



Showing again to my delighted gaze 

 Scenes long forgotten. Time stops in his flight 

 And brings once more ray golden youth to sight. 



I look far backward through the year's soft haze. 



When pain itself was spanned by rainbow rays, 

 And every cloud shone with a mystic light. 

 Young life returns. I feel my pulses thrill 



To the strong rythm of youth unworn and sweet; 



I tread again old paths with bounding feet. 

 And life and joy and love "my being fill 



What magic brings these scenes my heart to greet ? 

 And from the wood comes answer •whip-poor-will! 



B. J. LooMis. 



^pNDESCRIBABLY sweet memories are called to my mind when I hear the name 

 (a Whippoorwill. I think of my old Wisconsin home, of the happiness and hardships 

 of the first settlers, of the glorious primeval forests, of the browsing half wild cattle in 

 the woods, of the millions of Passenger Pigeons moving in immense swarms over fielids 

 and forests, and of the spring time when new life pervaded all Nature. How many 

 hours have I spent in the woods when I was sent for the cattle to drive them home, 

 and how often have I listened to the charming night concerts of nocturnal songsters! 

 Time and again have I sauntered through the budding and flowering forest in spring 

 and early summer ! None could tell me the names of the pretty flowers which I brought 

 home, and no one was able to give me the desired information about the birds, whose 

 voices I had heard and whose beauty and brilliancy I had admired. I frequently roamed 

 about in the woods, until the notes of the Whippoorwill reminded me that it was time 

 to return home. 



The time after sunset late in May, in June, and July in a Wisconsin forest of white 



