THE NIGHT HAWK. 113 



Rocky Blountains. The name of this bird is in 

 singular disagreement with its most marked charac- 

 teristics, it being generally seen upon the wing in 

 broad day, often when the sun is shining brilliantly, 

 and mostly retiring to rest soon after dusk. It may 

 frequently be seen flying over the steeples and tall 

 chimneys of our most densely populated cities, and 

 sometimes builds its nest upon the house-top. Its food 

 consists of large insects, which it procures upon the 

 wing. When engaged in their pursuit, its motions 

 are very graceful and interesting, and as it glides 

 around in endless gyrations, flinging itself with the 

 most careless ease upon the bosom of every gale, now 

 rising, and now, like an arrow, dropping on its prey, 

 at intervals uttering a shrill scream, then darting off 

 in a wild zigzag course, snapping up every insect that 

 comes within its reach, its actions may be followed by 

 the eye with no small degree of pleasure. 



In Louisiana it makes its appearance from the 

 south early in the Spring ; here it spends several 

 weeks of the time occupied in its migrations, and is 

 seen sailing over the cotton and sugar plantations, 

 picking up here and there an unlucky beetle, or 

 gambolling wildly over the prairies, lakes, and rivers 

 from morning until evening. 



There is probably no other bird, except the Swal- 

 low, which can rival the Night Hawk in the beauty 

 and ease of its aerial motions, abounding as they do 

 in feats of the most wonderful agility. Sometimes it 

 will raise itself several hundred feet in the most 

 careless manner, crying louder and louder as it as- 



10* " H 



