55

1916.

89. Whippoorwill. A bird heard singing at evening on May 9 [May 9, 1916], another
on the 12th [May 12, 1916], three together on the 26 [May 26, 1916], one on June 1 [June 1, 1916] one on June 4th [June 4, 1916]
and two on the 17th [June 17, 1916]. The voices of all these came to my ears while
I was in or near our farm house, from varying distances and directions
invariably to west or northwest, however, and oftenest, it would seem,
from low-ground, scrubby woodland beyond Lawrence's fields and bordering on
the old Bigelow Road. Only occasionally was one heard near at hand
in our Berry Pasture and never once did the pleasingly hurried notes
sound anywhere to the south or east. Hence the entire wooded country
lying between the Farm and the road that leads to Bensen's was
apparently shunned at all times by whippoorwills this season although
formerly much frequented by them, at least during hours of darkness.
Whether or not there were any near Ball's Hill I cannot say.
Why those which must have passed the entire summer within
earshot from our house & to the westward or northwestward of
it were heard so seldom is difficult to comprehend. Certainly
they one and all remained severely silent throughout many a
calm, warm evening in May and June and even when there
was bright moonlight were much less vociferous than is their
want at such times & seasons.

90. Nighthawk. No bird of this species, basking by day in full
sunlight on a branch of any of the big elms that shade our dairy yard, 
proclaimed his presence there by occasional harsh outcry as has happened
so often at this season in former years, but one on wing was heard
piping at 5 P.M. on May 25 [May 25, 1916] and another noted northward
shortly before sunset on the 26th [May 26, 1916]. A third, seen about 7 P.M. on
June 6 [June 6, 1916], soared in wide circles to a great height over Birch Field
and then scooped down, directly over where I was standing, as if attempting
to boom but making no sound that reached my ears although 
piping distinctly enough during upward flight. This was reported several times.