X58 WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



It is a remarkable fact that even the largest moths on which the Whip- 

 poor-will feeds, are always swallowed tail foremost, and when swallowed, 

 the wings and legs are found closely laid together, and as if partially glued 

 by the saliva or gastric juice of the bird. The act of deglutition must be 

 greatly aided by the long bristly feathers of the upper mandible, as these no 

 doubt force the wings of the insects close together, before they enter the 

 mouth. 



I have represented a male and two females, as well as some of the insects 

 on which they feed. The former are placed on a branch of Red Oak, that 

 tree being abundant on the skirts of the Kentucky Barrens, where the Whip- 

 poor-will is most plentiful. 



Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 71. 

 Caprimulgus vociferus, Bonap. Syn., p. 62. 



Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 422; vol. v. p. 405. 

 Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 614. 



Bristles without lateral filaments; tail much rounded. General colour of 

 upper parts dark brownish-grey, streaked and minutely sprinkled with 

 brownish-black; quills and coverts dark brown, spotted in bars with light 

 brownish-red; four middle tail-feathers like those of the back, the three 

 lateral white in their terminal half; throat and breast similar to the back, 

 with a transverse band of white on the fore neck, the rest of the lower parts 

 paler and mottled. Female like the male, but with the lateral tail-feathers 

 reddish-white toward the tip only, and the band across the fore neck pale 

 yellowish-brown. 



Male, 9£, 19. Female. 



Genus II.— CHORDEILES, Swains. NIGHT-HAWK. 



Mouth opening to beneath the centre of the eyes; bill extremely small; 

 upper mandible with the tip decurved, and a deep lateral groove. Nostrils 

 oblong, prominent, marginate. Eyes very large. Aperture of ear elliptical, 

 very large. Head very large, depressed, but less so than in Caprimulgus. 

 Claw of middle toe pectinate. No bristles at the base of the upper mandible. 

 Wings very long, pointed, with the first quill longest, and the secondaries 

 very short. Tail emarginate. 



