164 NIGHT HAWK. 



Three species only of this genus are found within the 

 United States, — the chuck-will's-widow, the whip-poor-will, 

 and the night hawk. The first of these is confined to those 

 States lying south of Maryland; the other two are found 

 generally over the Union, hut are frequently confounded one 

 with the other, and by some supposed to he one and the same 

 bird. A comparison of this with the succeeding plate, which 

 contains the figure of the whip-poor-will, will satisfy those 

 who still have their doubts on this subject ; and the great 

 difference of manners which distinguishes each will render 

 this still more striking and satisfactory. 



On the last week in April, the night hawk commonly 

 makes its first appearance in this part of Pennsylvania. At 

 what particular period they enter Georgia, I am unable to 

 say ; but I find, by my notes, that in passing to New Orleans 

 by land, I first observed this bird in Kentucky on the 21st of 

 April. They soon after disperse generally over the country, 

 from the seashore to the mountains, even to the heights of 

 the Alleghany ; and are seen towards evening, in pairs, playing 



effect always pleasing — often more so than in those which can boast of 

 a more gorgeous apparel. 



There is another structure in this bird which has given rise to much 

 conjecture among naturalists, particularly those whose opportunities of 

 observation have been comparatively limited, and has been looked upon 

 as a peculiarity existing in this genus only, — I allude to the serrature 

 of the centre claw. This structure we also find in many other genera, 

 totally different from the present in almost every particular, and where 

 the uses of combing its bristles or freeing itself from the vermin that 

 persons have been willing to afflict this species with in more than ordi- 

 nary proportions, could not be in any way applied. We find it among 

 the Ardeadce, Platalea, Ibis, Phalacracorax, and Cursorius, all widely 

 differing in habit : the only assimilating form among them is the gene- 

 rally loose plumage. I have no hesitation in saying that the use of this 

 structure has not yet been ascertained, and that, when found out, it will 

 be different from any that has yet been suggested. The very variety of 

 forms among which we find it will bear this out, and the presence of it 

 in Cajprwiulgus will more likely turn out the extreme limit of the struc- 

 ture than that from which we should draw our conclusions. It is much 

 more prevalent among the Grallatores, and our present form is the only 

 one in any other division where it is at all found. — Ed. 



