58 GOATSUCKERS. 



fields, where goats and sheep were herded, in pursuit of the 

 insects which are attracted there in great numbers. Only one 

 species of Goatsucker is known in Europe. 



47. The Euro-pean Goatsucker, — Caprimulgus europceiis, — 

 {Plate i-fg. 2.) is of a brown gray, undulated with blacldsh 

 brown, with a whitish band running from the beak to the back 

 of the neck. It arrives in France in the spring, nestles in the 

 heath, and the moment its food begins to grow scarce it seeks a 

 warmer climate. 



48. There is one species in Africa, remarkable for a feather 

 twice the length of the body which arises from near the carpus 

 of each wing, and is barbed only near the extremity. The warm 

 parts of America abound in these birds. 



49. The Chiick-wilVs Widow, — Caprimnlgus carolinensis, — 

 appears in the southern parts of the United States about the 

 middle of March. The head and back are dark brown, minutely 

 mottled with yellowish red, and longitudinally streaked with 

 black. 



50. The Whip-poor-will, — Caprimulgus vociferus, — is heard 

 during the spring and early autumn, in the middle section of the 

 United States. Its general colour is a brownish gray, streaked 

 and finely sprinkled with brownish black. About the middle of 

 May, the female lays two eggs ; like all birds of this genus, she 

 builds no nest, but depositee her eggs upon the bare ground, in 

 some dry and sequestered situation. 



51. The Night-Hawk, or Night- Jar, — Caprimxilgus Ameri- 

 camis, — is met ^vith in all parts of the United States. It is of a 

 brownish black, mottled with white, and a pale reddish brown 

 above, and a grayish white, undulated with dark brown below. 

 Night-Hawks arrive in the Middle States towards the close of 

 April. They are commonly seen towards evening in pairs, sail- 

 ing around in sweeping circles, high in the air, occasionally 

 descending lower to capture flying insects, chiefly of the larger 

 kind, such as wasps, beetles and moths. About the middle of 

 August, they begin their migrations towards the south, and may 

 be seen as late as the middle of September, in the evening, 

 in scattered flocks, - consisting of several hundreds together, 

 moving towards more congenialclimes, darting after insects, or 

 feeding leisurely as they advance. Sometimes different species 

 of Swallow are mingled in these wandering tribes. 



47. What are the characters of the European Goatsucker ? 

 43. Are Goatsuckers peculiar to Europe? 



49. What are the characters of the Chuck-will's widow ? 



50. What is the Whip-poor-will? 



51. What is the Night Hawk? 



I 



