The Texas Nighthawk 



The most gifted imagination would scarcely ascribe this geophonic 

 serenade to a pair of birds. But the Texas Nighthawks are responsible, 

 as any one may learn who has the fortune to stumble upon their eggs at 

 nightfall. The hour is important, for were the brooding bird to be dis- 

 turbed in broad daylight she would merely lift over the sage-brush, flit 

 a few yards, plump down again, and that would be the last of it. But 

 at dusk there is more activity. The bird retires, indeed, but she summons 

 her mate and they set up, at near ranges, always from the ground, that 

 quaint batrachian wail, which is intended, no doubt, rather to charm 

 than to frighten. Heard at close quarters, the note is again seen to be 

 well sustained and nearly continuous, save that it breaks now and then 

 to a lower note, apparently while the bird is taking breath. (This sound 

 can be passably imitated, I find, by attempting an "Italian A" low and 

 soft with the uvula half shut instead of wide open.) But the serenaders 

 are ill at ease now. The sound changes abruptly to a staccato complaint, 

 an excited clucking, breathlessly interspersed with more musical notes: 

 toot toot toot oo ank ah toot toot ah wank ah toot toot toot oo toot. Both 

 birds utter these notes, and as they rise and flit restlessly to and fro, 

 or make suggestive passes at the intruder's head, they sound like flying 

 banjos picked by unseen fingers. How unclassifiable these notes really 

 are may be guessed from the varied attempts at description already 





Vfe 



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Taken in Merced County 



THE NESTLINGS 



Photo by the Author 



1066 



