THE NORTH AMERICAN GOATSUCKERS. 669 
traced between them, so the connecting chain is filled up between 
ribs extending from end to end of a scale, through undulations 
and shorter ribs, to those slightly projecting, and so on to the 
perfect spine or secondary hair. 
‘ 
THE NORTH AMERICAN GOATSUCKERS. 
BY DAVID SCOTT. 
Tue whippoorwills and nighthawks of North America are by 
many confounded and considered to be the same species. This 
impression is, nevertheless, entirely erroneous ; and I hope to show, 
in the following remarks, such obvious differences existing be- 
tween them as will convince the most superficial observers of their 
non-identity. 
It is surprising that our farmers (for they perhaps are the per- 
sons by whom these birds are most generally confounded) should 
consider such widely separated species, which resemble each 
other in color only, the same. It exhibits a carelessness which is 
hardly excusable, for doubtless the majority of them have shot the 
birds in question, and a simple comparison would surely convince 
them of their error. That any supernatural ideas should be enter- 
tained respecting these harmless and useful birds appears even 
more surprising; but such is the case with a large number of 
people, more especially, however, with the uneducated. There is 
Prevalent in various sections of the country a remarkable awe, not 
to say fear, of them: and various are the misfortunes which are 
ascribed to their supposed supernatural influence—such as the 
Sudden death of one of the inmates of a house, which, it is af- 
firmed, surely follows the song of the whippoorwill if he be perched 
Upon the door-sill. It is also believed by some that the white 
Spots on the wings of the nighthawks are silver dollars. The 
pertinacity with which superstitious traditions cling to people is 
Well known, and the foregoing, which are not all that are current 
respecting these birds, form no exception. They have undoubt- 
edly been handed down and preserved through many generations. 
It appears remarkable, but there seems to be something about these 
birds which has excited the superstition of various nations for 
