WHIP-POOR- WILL. i y 5 



than half an inch beyond the point of the bill, end in fine hair, 

 and curve inwards ; these seem to serve as feelers ; and pre- 

 vent the escape of winged insects : the eyes are very large, 

 full, and bluish black; the plumage above is so variegated 

 with black, pale cream, brown, and rust colour, sprinkled and 

 powdered in such minute streaks and spots as to defy descrip- 

 tion ; the upper part of the head is of a light brownish gray, 

 marked with a longitudinal streak of black, with others radi- 

 ating from it ; the back is darker, finely streaked with a less 

 deep black ; the scapulars are very light whitish ochre, beauti- 

 fully variegated with two or three oblique streaks of very deep 

 black ; the tail is rounded, consisting of ten feathers, the exterior 

 one an inch and a quarter shorter than the middle ones, the 

 three outer feathers on each side are blackish brown for half 

 their length, thence pure white to the tips ; the exterior one 

 is edged with deep brown nearly to the tip ; the deep brown 

 of these feathers is regularly studded with light brown spots ; 

 the four middle ones are without the white at the ends, but 

 beautifully marked with herring-bone figures of black and 

 light ochre finely powdered ; cheeks and sides of the head, of 

 a brown orange or burnt colour ; the wings, when shut, reach 

 scarcely to the middle of the tail, and are elegantly spotted 

 with very light and dark brown, but are entirely without the 

 large spot of white which distinguishes those of the night 

 hawk ; chin, black streaked with brown ; a narrow semi- 

 circle of white passes across the throat ; breast and belly, 

 irregularly mottled and streaked with black and yellow 

 ochre ; the legs and feet are of a light purplish flesh colour, 

 seamed with white ; the former feathered before, nearly to 

 the feet ; the two exterior toes are joined to the middle one, 

 as far as the first joint, by a broad membrane ; the inner edge 

 of the middle claw is pectinated, and, from the circumstance 

 of its being frequently found with small portions of down 

 adhering to the teeth, is probably employed as a comb to rid 

 the plumage of its head of vermin ; this being the principal 

 and almost only part so infested in all birds. 



